<P> The economy of Middle America is traditionally agricultural, though most inhabitants now live in suburban locales . Compared to coastal America, home prices tend to be low and economic disparities are less pronounced . Housing prices tend to be significantly less volatile than those on the coasts, and houses tend to appreciate in value more slowly . </P> <P> The phrase Middle American values is a political cliché; like family values, it refers to more traditional or conservative politics, although larger cities such as St. Louis, Missouri, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and major university towns such as Madison, Wisconsin; Champaign, Illinois; Bloomington, Indiana; Columbus, Ohio; Lawrence, Kansas; and Austin, Texas, are exceptions . </P> <P> Many of the political battleground states are situated in "Middle America ." </P>

What states are in the middle of the united states