I don't think anywhere in PA will be affordable AND enjoyable. It is either one or the other. Enjoyable but unaffordable. Or Affordable (barely) and unenjoyable.
If if i was young and planning on doing what you are doing, i would look to the area around Hornell & Almond & Alfred NY, maybe even more west NY in the Southern Tier. Affordable. But with the colleges in Alfred there is a nice art/liberal scene. Some quaint (if not a bit rednecky) tiny towns...but still more liberal and upkept than anything in PA. The area is relatively depressed so it is not amazing, but the people are much more open minded than PA. The NY school system is great.