Here's why:
* Common nouns refer to general, non-specific people, places, or things.
* Proper nouns refer to specific people, places, or things and are capitalized.
Examples:
* Common noun: city, town, place
* Proper noun: New York City, Springfield, Paris
"Hometown" is a general term for the town or city where someone was born or grew up. It doesn't refer to a specific place.