Is it true that Americans in rural areas or small towns are quite nicer compared to those who live in cities?

I have a city home and a country home, all I can say is that the country people are more prone to cliques. Outsiders are generally not trusted or accepted. I got lucky because my grandparents moved there 30 years before I did, so I was accepted a little easier. Mostly I find people in the big city nicer, although we generally mind our own business more.

I've traveled a lot and found the answer to this is "no". Rural people are generally insular and nasty to outsiders. They may be more superficially friendly than, say, New Yorkers but when push comes to shove I'd rather need a New Yorker for help than a rural person.

Yes we are.