Low-paid workers today have a much better life compared to workers in company town
In company town, the workers are required to live in a resident owned by the company. The tricky part is that the company resident usually located far away from other cities, and the all the shops that exist in company town is owned by the company.
So, not only that workers in company town have to pay rent to the company, the company would also obtain additional income from the consumption made by the workers. This left the workers with almost nothing to safe.
Even though low-paid workers today might receive less salary, they are free to plan their spending on cheapest place possible and save their income.