Some locations just appeal to few folks as travel destinations and aren’t necessarily on the way to appealing spots. They might be good to live in, but not necessarily to visit.
All sitters consider travel costs (including rental cars), as well as opportunity cost. Like if they go to X, they can’t go to Y.
In some locations, unless you happen to get someone who’s visiting family nearby, demand might be low. And in such cases, paid sitters are your best bet.