Maybe I'm just being autistic, but this feels like it could be one of those next region hints that Game Freak likes to sneak in sometimes. We already know Unova isn't the whole US in the Pokemon world because Orre exists, and Home on the Range (the folk song picrel is referencing) definitely isn't associated with New England. In other dialogue he's also vague about his home region, and he talks like someone from rural America.