Coming from someone who's been to Ohio, it's not really surprising. 2 of the 3 major cities, Cleveland and Cincinnati, have been losing a lot of people until recently. That means cheap houses. Even the more expensive newer houses in the outer suburbs of these cities are very cheap compared to somewhere like Colorado or Massachusetts, where the same house in the same type of neighborhood would be double or even triple the price.
huh, I can't seem to find California or New York listed in this quiz here: https://www.jetpunk.com/quizzes/top-10-us-states-by-manufacturing-employment. I guess consultants and investment bankers don't actually make anything.
Buying homes in New York city is typically more expensive than London. US just has a looooot more "out somewhere".