I don't think you're necessarily just limited to rural locations, but this does depend on what you require in a house.
If you're willing to buy a 1000 square foot apartment/condo, those can be had for ~$300K in some nice neighborhoods here in Chicago, with full access to the city's amenities.
If you're willing to live in the Chicago burbs (I personally am not), that same money will buy you a larger house with a yard. Still not close to rural, but definitely brings the problems that come with suburbia.
I don't think you're necessarily just limited to rural locations, but this does depend on what you require in a house.
If you're willing to buy a 1000 square foot apartment/condo, those can be had for ~$300K in some nice neighborhoods here in Chicago, with full access to the city's amenities.
If you're willing to live in the Chicago burbs (I personally am not), that same money will buy you a larger house with a yard. Still not close to rural, but definitely brings the problems that come with suburbia.