Job market sucks here (Columbus). If you're in IT, it sucks even worse. A PhD scientist friend of mine (not IT) has been out of work for a year now. Although a lot of it is in how you market yourself. Another friend of mine only needed about 8 months to find a job, but he was an engineer and MBA with a unique skill set.

But... The cost of living is a lot lower, and you can get way more house here for the money. Take the cost of your house, divide by three, that's probably about what it would cost here, depending on which city.