Back to the OP - My dd is from Northeast Pennsylvania suburbia, a socially liberal but economically conservative area. She went to Alabama and is thriving. She went with an open mind and an understanding that she was going to meet all different people. Her best friends and sorority sisters are from all over the US although there are many from Alabama and other neighboring states. I just asked her what she thought about your question and she said “people are people. There are mean people and kind people everywhere. If you are confident in yourself and open to meet others than you should have no problem going anywhere, you will find your people and learn a lot about yourself in the process.”
The most pronounced difference that she has noticed is surrounding religion. She feels that people are much more open and vocal about their religous beliefs than she is used to in our home area. She said it is difficult to describe but church is a big thing in a very different public way then around here. She feels that church is about social status and for show and public in Alabama where in our area it is much more private and more live and let live. She did not know or really care where or even if many of her HS peers went to church but at Alabama it is a social thing.
We have another child taking part in the college search now and we have paid attention to the ratio of in state to out of state students at schools he is looking at. We would be hesistant to send him far away to a school that is not geographically diverse.