If you end up in north county, here is a list of relatively affordable places to live-
SB County: Lompoc, Vandenberg Village, Los Alamos, Orcutt, Santa Maria, Guadalupe
SLO County: Oceano, Nipomo, Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, Atascadero, Templeton, Santa Margarita, Paso Robles...