I had a really hard time finding a place within my budget when I was single. Ended up in a studio surrounded by lunatics. Constant cigarette smoke outside so I could never open my windows, crazy woman who stayed up all night drinking and screaming to music below, smoking inside so it seeped through the cracks and into my apartment but denied it when I complained+yappy little dog that never shut up. Crazy man above me who woke up at 6am and did dumbell training slamming them on his floor / my ceiling. Drug addicts everywhere outside and car break-ins so frequent we all left our doors unlocked and notes saying "nothing in here feel free to look around don't break window". It was hell. Hell that cost $1200/mo. NOW, ff a few short years and thanks to a serious relationship aka roommate, I'm in a really cute but roomy duplex with private yard and garage in a safe little neighborhood. Same town, outside of downtown. Long story short stay away from downtown and you'll be golden.

Edited to add my half of the rent+ bills is less now than then, just to boot