I grew up in Minneapolis and then the suburbs and left as soon as I could... but returned to a small town about 2 hours drive southeast in a small town called Winona. It's the home of Fastenal, Peerless Chain, and a ton of other "startups" from the last 50 years. I work "remote" for my own consultancy turned Electron-based software company making apps for label printers. The cost of a home here in Winona, circa 10 years ago was about $100k and even though prices have nearly doubled the houses are still affordable. You don't need to make much to live here, and we love the beauty of Minnesota... especially southeastern Minnesota. It's MN "NICE!"