The pay is probably higher where you are, and in smaller markets (OP) people that are from your market are moving in driving up prices so that natives can't afford anything. That is my current situation as well, in the Nashville market. Homes that were only $300K a few years ago have shot up to $600-700K in just 3 years. A 2 bedroom condo 10 years ago that was $200K is now closer to a million.