Just found this thread, didn't notice it before for some reason.
There are lots of reasons, the number one is money, of course, but the other is that there is no there, there.
This is a rather strange comment. Money (or jobs), yes, but I would not go along with the rest unless it simply means a low population, which is obvious. But things to do? When I lived there I always had something going on, and it was never boring. And the quality of people there is amazing (outside the politicians).
I pretty much agree with the assessments above. Separation is definitely the way to go, and that is what FSW et. al. was all about, and it will happen when the economy collapses. People move to places that suit them, especially when the place they now live becomes intolerable for them.