Then don't live there.
Suburban Georgia is surprisingly affordable. Other areas will do nicely too.
Actually, if you search the web a bit, you can find towns that will GIVE you land so long as you build a modest house and live there a few years. That plus a "Glassic Soho" for $65K will give anyone a nice starting point. May not be as exciting as southern Connecticut, but "supply and demand" rules.
Be honest & humble about what you need & want, look carefully, and you can live pretty well on not very much - and everything you earn thereafter isn't already claimed by someone else.
Come to Houston, you can get 2500 sq ft home on 8000+ sq ft lot 30 to 45 minutes from downtown at less tehn $200K.
OK...but where are you going to WORK to earn money to buy ANY property in those areas?