North vs. South

There is a stereotype that New York City is unfriendly and rude. It is not. It is efficient. There is less idle polite chatter, but people are friendly and helpful. They are also in a hurry. There is a correlation between a city's population and the average walking speed on its sidewalks.
(New York Times, Feb. 29, 1976, p. 46)
I visited New York City last summer, and Columbus, Mississippi last week. I found people friendly in both. I did notice that people seemed more willing to talk in the south. They just seemed less inclined to end a conversation. If you want to talk, they will listen.