Which of the following describes a trend towards smaller towns becoming more populated?

The trend towards smaller towns becoming more populated is best described by counter-urbanization. This process refers to people moving away from larger urban areas to smaller towns and rural areas, often seeking better quality of life, lower housing costs, and a less congested environment.

As cities become increasingly crowded and expensive, some individuals and families choose to relocate to less populated areas, which leads to an increase in the population of these smaller towns. Counter-urbanization is characterized by this shift in population dynamics, where smaller communities grow as a result of people leaving larger urban centers.

The other options relate to different urban processes. Decentralization refers to the movement of people and businesses from urban centers to peripheral areas, influencing urban development but not specifically on the demographic change in smaller towns. Urban decentralization pertains more to the distribution of urban activities across various areas rather than a direct population increase in smaller towns. Population migration is a broader term that includes all movements of people but does not specifically indicate a trend towards the growth of smaller towns relative to urban areas.