Complete speculation: outskirts of college towns, some of the inland mountain towns in northern California like Quincy. The southern ones (Big Bear, Idyllwild etc.) are already swarmed. Even with these towns, you'd probably have to find something in a less desirable area and wait a decade or two for it to be gentrified. Many hipster or super expensive places were once the "bad area" of a big city: Venice Beach, warehouse district of Los Angeles, Pioneer Square in Seattle. Full of bums, needles on the ground. Super cheap.

The older people I met who lucked out with massive appreciation on their properties just bought houses/condos in cheaper areas with decent locations (commuting distance to the city center), then lucked out when gentrification passed over. At the time they were very bland areas.

Kansas City is worth a look

I second this, if you can tolerate the Midwest winters. Kansas City has plenty of industry (and great BBQ!) and is fairly clean. One downside is the lack of a light rail system.

The winters aren't too bad and I'd say pretty mild actually. You get more ice storms than snow in KC. It's not like Chicago or Minneapolis by any means. Lightrail expansion is coming in the next few years, which I think will officially take it out of the "toy project" state it is in now. I also think with the addition of the new airport KC will just blow up. It's already growing pretty rapidly.

A lot to offer in what way?

Columbus and Pittsburgh come to mind in the Great Lakes Region. Though Columbus home prices are at record highs they are still EASILY affordable for even a junior dev out of college (if you don't have crushing student debt). Nashville is another one on the radar as well. You could even probably swing something good in Detroit.