Grey is a good word for it. The specific term my dad used when he visited was “bleak”. 
I also lived in Aiken for a while. I think you could find everything you wanted and more if you went nearer to that zipcode; Aiken’s housing market has taken off a lot but there’s still places closer to Georgia (Macon like another poster mentioned) that have the benefit of good horse country and infrastructure without too much cost of living.
Me and Michigan. I love MI in the summer and fall and it requires periodic winter visits to keep me from succumbing to the fantasy of year-round life near the shores of Lake Michigan. 
I have lived in both Georgetown and Lexington (twice) and still have family there. It’s a fantastic area, but, like so many areas, is growing quickly and losing some of its appeal for me. And it has winter. Also the fact that I have family there. 
I can’t offer any advice on boarding/training, but it’s a lovely area.
Periodic winter visits – that’s great and exactly how I feel too. Every now and then I get wistful about how breathtakingly gorgeous it is out there and it only takes one visit a year to my MIL around Thanksgiving to remember it is a whole different country and it is raw and cold and blue - so incredibly blue - and not worth living in year round. Lol.
There are likely plenty of areas of the US to look in your $600 price range for a house on 5 acres, the tough part is finding that with a barn/fencing on it for horses. Also, you need to be aware of property taxes and insurance to factor into what you can afford.
Why don’t you go to Zillow or Realtor for the states you think you might like, search for houses on 5 acres + and mark equestrian facilities or put horses, barn in the search parameters and see what comes up. If nothing else, it will give you a basic idea of what’s out there in areas you might be interested in. Then look for equine/large animal vets, shopping etc.; the equine vet thing is important as there may be areas that lack that completely.
Midcoast Maine here…Cold, damp everything closes or runs limited hours when its not tourist season
Yes central to southern Ohio is a good option.
I was born-and-raised in Columbus, moved to Florida at 29. I also loathe winter, which is why I left. But, a very robust equine area. Brave Horse is a gorgeous facility. Lots of h/j barns and shows, lots of the local barns do schooling shows. Not a bad drive to Cleveland or Cincinnati for additional h/j showing. I highly recommend using the local equine hospitals if needed, and NOT Ohio State’s. YMMV.
If boarding, it’s about impossible to find a barn that ever actually turns out, so just a heads up on that. “Daily turnout weather permitting” is the standard line. Which means not if it’s raining. Or below 60F. Or rained four days ago.
My parentals still leave just east of Columbus, out where the new Intel is being built. It once was quiet and rural, but has been building up for 7-8 years now and is expected to explode once Intel is done. So IDK how long prices will stay affordable.
Since WEC Ohio was built, a lot of the Columbus-located ones started going there instead of Florida. But there’s a few good options that stay local too, or at least have an assistant trainer that stays back.
I agree, I think it’s a strange choice but 
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