Kicker: The middle of nowhere

MARY REICHARD, HOST: I grew up in a small Missouri town of 3,000, so this story resonates!

What do you get when you trade traffic jams for tractor pulls? Evidently, you get contentment, and maybe even a check for $5,000.

JENSEN: Ladies and gentlemen, we have to do without a mountain range, without an ocean. But we have awesome amphitheaters, we have quality schools, we have low cost of living, and an awesome quality of life.

That’s Mayor Chris Jensen of Noblesville, Indiana where the neighbors wave and the cows are calm.

But he’s not alone. Small towns across the Midwest are handing out relocation checks, wellness stipends, and even fresh eggs. And remote workers— especially Gen Z’ers — are moving in! Their kids are out riding bikes, and community is the priority.

So you can forget $8 lattes and sky-high rent. Turns out the middle of nowhere might just be where it’s at.

It’s The World and Everything in It.

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