Entry level homes in non-trendy areas are much cheaper. My home is about $110k.
Like, it was worth that when you bought it several years ago? I mean, I live in the midwest too, where it used to be possible to get a modest home in the burbs for about that price. But those homes are now gone, they disappeared over the past few years as they were purchased in all-cash transactions by flippers who threw some paint and flooring in them before selling them for twice the price.
Housing in the cheap areas is being hit really hard. Lots of areas are seeing coastal-levels of YoY price inflation. Mine is ~18% YoY according to Zillow.
Unless you work in healthcare. Then you can be wherever.