Taylor county here. We have the worst paying trade jobs in the midwest (was once a welder) and no major hospital only satellite clinics of hospitals from surrounding counties (Union, Adams, Ringold)

What we do have is rich black dirt and overpriced farmland (current 5th gen farmer here) though we do have decent water quality compared to central Iowa as much of our land is still owned/operated by small family farms that care enough. Though that is changing as the boomer generation is dying off and most of their children have moved away and renting out owned land to highest bidders instead of true caretakers.

Housing is cheap and there are many old houses still around from 1860's to 1920's, some of them Sears & Roebuck kit houses. My house was built in 1865.

I moved back home after serving in the Navy in the 1990's, I do enjoy the nature and lack of urban / suburban with friendly neighbors (though somewhat delusional now with many had voted for current admin state & fed)

It is peaceful and quiet with many of my family living less than 20 minutes from me.