Cheapest nice rural place to live in the US ?

[NT!]

bloom - there is significant variation between different parts of the appalachians. north carolina (my home state, go heels!) is really wonderful and has some cool towns/cities. however it is getting developed pretty rapidly so the desirable parts will not be as cheap as they once were. you could still get some good land out in western NC near asheville. it's got fairly mild winters but it's not california by any stretch.

rural georgia is similar in climate - parts are a little warmer but not much - i am less familiar with its towns and cities but it is definitely less expensive.