Having to drive 2 hours to work from middle of nowhere does not sound like good base for functioning, SUSTAINABLE society. You want to live in the middle of nowhere, you have to factor in the costs of your choice.
Millions of people have decided that it sucks less than the alternatives so IDK what to tell you. Sustainable or not, until something better comes along society is just gonna keep doing it.
Off the top of your head, can you think of some reasons why people might end up living some distance from where they work?
They bought a house or apartment and can't sell it or rent it out fast enough when they had to take a new job?
Or perhaps they simply cannot afford to live where they work or earn a living wage where they live?