Where to move thats family-friendly and affordable??

My boyfriend and I would like to move with our 3 year old son out west. We are unsure of safe or affordable neighborhoods as well as apartments to look into or veer away from. Some descriptive help from the locals would be GODSENT! We are both current college students with low-average income, 1 vehicle, amd pets. We will be coming from Cleveland, OH so pleASE provide all the help we can get! Thanks