I'd probably be looking at Tri-cities Washington area for somewhere close.... But it's getting spendy there too. Unless you want to go east (realtive to the NW)- Missourri, Ohio, Arkansas. I don't know how the job market is there but land is cheap.
You'll have to pass on Idaho Utah Colorado if you want to buy a decent house in a decent 'burb for under $500K.
Do a zillow search via map view and set an upper limit and zoom way out. You'll get a good idea of where to research...
Oh you might check out Detroit too ;)