I would way rather be paying more for a city home :)
Considering the inexpensive housing, an excellent Jesuit preparatory school for $7k/year, the low cost of living, and the huge scholarships to the city's University, a family of five could live extremely comfortably for $150,000-$200,000/yr. Couples with occupations such as lawyer, doctor, engineer, or small business owner live like they're downright rich.
I suppose it's the old adage that keeps me in DC: You could sell your house here and live like a king anywhere else. But you never will, because you're afraid you'll never be to get back.
Living like a king in the sticks is overrated IMO.
I have a MS in CS, but I am sure a BS would suffice.
But yah, not great. So I work remote.