These are not “small towns”. Most of these are small cities. Atlantic City? Most of us have an idea what the good neighborhoods are, and some of them are NOT cheap. (Actually, I seem to remember that Pacific Avenue, which was high brow in 1935, is now a bit of a red light district). Springfield, IL is a state capital, and has over 100,000 people. So does, Sandusky, Ohio.
How about Baltic Avenue? I heard that the property is cheap there.