Wealth creation seems to be focussed increasingly on metropolitan areas and the rural manufacturing and farming areas seem to be going through population decline.

Maybe you are in a real anomaly, but whenever we leave the city, once we get pass commuting distance the number of For Sale signs is astounding (sometimes like 10% of a town or hamlet) while in the city housing is booming.

I don't think I live in an anomaly.

Statewide statistics here: http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.wi.htm

I live in this met region: http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.wi_oshkosh_msa.htm