I came across a book by sociologists Patrick J. Carr and Maria J. Kefalas entitled Hollowing out the Middle: The Rural Brain Drain and What It Means for America. The WSJ has a review here.

I know what it's like to leave a small town and move to a city. I've done that and I want to go back. I was not looking for the bright lights, I was looking for a place to retire. Bad choice.