All big cities have high taxes, more government in the peoples lives, from public transportation to utilities. I've noticed and have lived in a lot of places. The more small town and rural you get, the lower the taxes, the less big government gets in your life. Also in small towns and rural areas, most people know each other and thus less crime. Also, there is more charity for someone who is truely in need, again, no need for big government. Jefferson wanted us to be a nation of farmers and didn't like big cities like what he called cesspools in Europe.