Renting or buying property in the lakes region

[cautionersx]

Hi everyone. My husband and I have grown up in this area and are now living in a rental in downtown Laconia. We would like to get out of downtown (our neighbors are intolerable) but stay in the Gilford/Laconia area for work. However, we are finding that to rent a decent apartment around here seems almost impossible for less than $1000/month. Therefore we looked at buying. All the houses seem to be $300,000+. I already knew the lakes region is a difficult place for young people to start out due to a lack of work and high cost of living. Nearly all the people our age that we know have left because of this. It's looking like the only place we could afford to purchase would be a mobile home which is fine with us if it's a nice neighborhood. But then all the nice mobile home parks are for 55+! I am starting to feel like the lakes region is only designed for rich or retired people.

Does anyone have advice? I love it here but feel like our only options are million dollar homes or crappy apartments in the slums. And if it sounds like we are inexperienced spring chickens it's because we are. Thanks!