Also, of course, one should keep in mind demographic shifts. There are many small towns (and even some city suburbs) with cheap empty houses that many people would never willingly occupy because there are no jobs there.
Also areas like East Cleveland that have a notorious reputation. Even if in that particular case the city was built by John D. Rockefeller, he is even buried there.
Ah yes, East Cleveland. One night I was biking home, one of the locals took note of my weakened position with a flat tire and that my skin color denoted I was not from the neighborhood, and they put a gun to my head. If you buy there, I recommend availing yourself of Ohio's constitutional carry provisions.
I’m so sorry to hear that happened to you, that must have been awful.