Over the centuries, yes. Over the space of a few years is a quite different matter. This, in fact, is the great divide in our country now - between the big cities and everywhere else, basically. The real England exists outside the cities - a fact reflected constantly in voting patterns.
I would recommend 'The Road To Somewhere' by David Goodhart on this subject.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Road-Somewh.../dp/1849047995