The median house price in San Marcos TX is very similar to Cincinatti, and you still have the whole no income tax thing going on.
If you are open to moving anywhere, the possibilities are endless, but your really should look for something that fits your personality. What is it that you love about Austin? We really miss the music, but also loved walking around Town Lake/ Lady Bird (depending on how long you have lived there) and other hikes, lake sailing. We had an awesome social network in Austin that we have not been able to rebuild and in fact do not know people who have that kind of network because social interactions are very different in different parts of the country.
Perhaps you like the food in Austin: Did you know that Toledo OH has the most restaurants per capita? Thousands and thousands of hole in the wall ethnic restaurants to die for. Just ask Klinger about Tony Packo's! It also has an amazing, award winning art museum and a symphony orchestra. With just enough of a stigma that it is not likely to ever become the next Austin or Ann Arbor, but within a reasonable drive of Ann Arbor, if you like that kind of thing. Just be sure to slam on your brakes like everyone else crossing from MI to OH.
As others have noted, incomes tend to be inline with COL. Even if you are running your own consulting business, will there be additional travel costs by living in a different part of the country or a less well connected airport? Not that Austin has great connections, but maybe it has the ones you need. My in laws up and left a major hub city and now it costs us half again as much to go visit them.