Idk much about any of those on the least expensive list. I know Jackson, MS has a nice downtown though.
Obviously everyone is different but Houston for example I get a hotel like a mile from the arena, just on the other side of the interstate. Took nearly an hour sitting in traffic to get there. I don't care how much more you claim to have to do if I have to sit in traffic for hours to get there.
I live 12 miles iirc from work and if it takes more than 20 minutes I am mad because that means there was some sort of wreck or other highway disruption got us one lane or reduced speed.
Even Dallas is right on the cusp of too big for me depending. 35 and 287 are almost always at a standstill. And buses/trains, always associated with homeless, druggies, and non modern prostitutes. I'll just drive where I am going and park there at that destination for free thank you. But of course to each his own
I live in modern, semi bougie gated apartments across the street from the Capitol, 5 minutes from downtown (Bricktown) for $900 for a 2br, elevator, concrete floors. Haven't seen one female tenant here over 40. INS tho. Apartment is like 950 sq ft. We still kind of get **** for non Country concerts but Dallas is less than 3 hours away for that like OTR in September.
Those articles about Google engineers in CA making 160k but living literally in closets or 10 deep in 2 br apartments while having the nerve to pay like 1500 to do so or dude who lives in his truck are crazy to me.