As consumers continue to grapple with elevated inflation, especially in housing, the Wall Street Journal/Realtor.com Emerging Housing Markets Index highlights housing markets that offer shoppers a lower cost of living, including for homes, and thriving local economies that are attractive, but not too crowded. The index identifies markets that those considering a home purchase should add to their shortlist–whether the goal is to live in it or rent it as a home to others:
https://www.realtor.com/research/april-2023-wsj-rdc-emerging-housing-markets-index/
Always amazes me they never use “distance to beach” as a criteria.
I went to Middle school and HS in LaCrosse WI. The town has deteriorated over the last couple of decades and job market/industry have moved out. I just sold my Mom’s house there a year ago at a loss. Like any list this is flawed. The population and unemployment data are incorrect. But if you need to leave CA and take your bank account with you ….yes one can live affordably in these locales