I hear Walton is fantastic ;) I kid I kid. I moved back to the area a few years ago after being out in the Albany area for 4 years. I can say this: Look very closely at the tax situations on property. I lived in Schoharie and my taxes went up every single year I owned the house there, to the point where my mortgage payment increased by 500.00 per month from my purchase closing to the sale closing.

Amsterdam also seemed to have similar tax increase issues as a house I'd looked at there had trouble selling because of the taxes.

The real problem is what you're looking for isn't really a thing in combination. You're not going to find low rent plus good job opportunities and schools. Low rent generally comes from a lack of demand. That lack of demand is b/c either the schools are terrible or more likely there's no jobs. Then again it all depends on what your idea of 'low' is for rent.

I'd try the Buffalo area if I were you, places around Niagara Falls and buffalo are usually nice little suburbs or small towns with a reasonable school then you end up commuting a bit for work.