Somewhere cheap, just not "cheap" ... (rent, living in)

[Kar54]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

Colorado Springs.

Echo David. Less expensive would be the Grand Junction area (Western Slope, high desert) or Pueblo (Front Range). COS is relatively expensive, just slightly above the national COL.

Utah or New Mexico may work as well. Semi-arid climates with plenty of sunshine, but more snow in CO and UT.

Good luck to you wherever you decide to settle

[SleeplessInSomewhereElse]

Thank you all for your suggestions, I'm looking into various cities. Thanks for the link ckhthankgod, I forgot about public transportation. NoMoreSnowForMe, California does sound like good weather. If I had to compromise, I would first look into places that had "nothing to do," no shopping, restaurants, or theaters. A decent internet connection could mostly compensate.

[jtur88]

I've certainly got everything you are looking for, here in a small Texas city. Might be pretty hot for you in summer, but it's surprising how quickly you get used to it.

[SyraBrian]

I've been researching Centralia, Washington, a small city that's equidistant between Portland and Seattle.

Housing costs are roughly 12% below the national average.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by Dawn.Davenport

Central or Northern New York (Syracuse, Utica, Binghampton, Watertown) is inexpensive and has cooler summers. Winters are gloomy, but you're close to a lot of outdoorsy things. Plattsburgh, New York has very cool summers, and is right on Lake Champlain.

Spokane, Washington; Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Missoula, Montana; or Billings, Montana could work too.

It's the not the most exciting in terms of topography, but North Dakota is inexpensive and safe, and has very low unemployement and pretty good education.

Here are some apartments in the first area mentioned in this post: Longley Jones Management Corp. - Apartments - Standard Apartment Housing - Syracuse & Surrounding Areas - Academy Place at Verbeck

Longley Jones Management Corp. - Apartments - Standard Apartment Housing - Rochester & Surrounding Areas - Villager Apartments

Longley Jones Management Corp. - Apartments - Standard Apartment Housing - Utica/Rome - Candlewyck Apartments

Longley Jones Management Corp. - Apartments - Standard Apartment Housing - Syracuse & Surrounding Areas - Wellington Manor Apartments

https://pmalliance.appfolio.com/list...d-12d13f8e9f60

[Count David]

Originally Posted by SyraBrian

I've been researching Centralia, Washington, a small city that's equidistant between Portland and Seattle.

Housing costs are roughly 12% below the national average.

There's a reason for that.

It's not reasonably commutable to anything, and it's quite an insular place.

Good luck though.

[SyraBrian]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

There's a reason for that.

It's not reasonably commutable to anything, and it's quite an insular place.

Good luck though.

Centralia has two Amtrak routes that run north and south regularly. For a small city, it seems to have adequate bus service.

[nep321]

I would also consider northeast Ohio (Cleveland area). Lots of VERY affordable housing, apartments, light traffic and plenty of JOBS. Summers are in the 80's and not that hot.

Other suggestions:

Rochester
Buffalo
Syracuse
Utica
Toledo
Erie
Kalamazoo

[Serious Conversation]

Usually if it's super cheap, you get what you pay for.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by nep321

I would also consider northeast Ohio (Cleveland area). Lots of VERY affordable housing, apartments, light traffic and plenty of JOBS. Summers are in the 80's and not that hot.

Other suggestions:

Rochester
Buffalo
Syracuse
Utica
Toledo
Erie
Kalamazoo

Perhaps Lansing/East Lansing and Grand Rapids too.