Amar R’ Yosi ben Kisma; paam achas halchti baderech upaga bi adam echad . . . Im yiten li kol kesef v’zahav va’avanim tovos umargaliyos sheba’olam, eini dar ela bimkom Torah!
That being said, and myself being a “Midwesterner”, there is loads of Torah and gedolei Torah in many other communities across the land. Its just that many of the New Yorkers think that they are following R’ Yosi ben Kisma’s advice by staying in (or near) the Big Apple.