Sorry to focus on this little detail, but don’t you be live in north north Louisiana?
And you’re saying that rents are out of control even there?!?
That seems like a not great sign
It's all relative, of course. They're not astronomical like they are in NOLA or BR or wherever, but I'm also making significantly less money than if I worked in a larger district, so a completely unexceptional one bedroom apartment is still like 40% of my take home pay.
By the time my rent and bills are paid, I have almost nothing left over. Inflation/rent hikes have obliterated me.