Huntsville, AL. City population ~200k, metro 450k. Small town feel, but most amenities you want/need in a city. Booming downtown scene, but housing is still cheap. I live in an older house on one end of town, 1750 sq ft, half acre, in a decent neighborhood. Own a rental on the other side of town, 7 year old house, 1530 sq ft, “hot” area for real estate. Paid $138k for the house I’m in, $161k for the rental (used to be my primary). You can get into some really desirable/walkable parts of town (by Huntsville standards) for $250k or have a huge, new house in the burbs. Choice is yours.
Culturally we lean more liberal than the rest of the state, although that’s relative. One of the most highly educated cities in the country (NASA, most Army aviation and missile research, Missile Defense Agency, Biotech industry). Also a pretty vibrant art scene and craft beer scene. Lowe Mill is the largest privately owned art center in the country (about 200 artists in residence, also holds concerts, restaurants, coffee shops). A couple of pubs have called us the beer Mecca of the south. Not sure I’d go that far, but we do have a dozen breweries and an improving restaurant scene.
Let me know if you have questions!