In my area, car prices are higher than average - sometimes much higher. I was lucky and got my '94 SI with 70K for $4500. It had some problems, though, and needed another grand in work before it was sterling.

Check the online sites first - www.autotrader.com
www.cars.com
etc.
They'll give you a good idea of what's available in your area. You might also try extending the range, since most of them ask for your ZIP code and then X number of miles in a radius outside of it. I started with 25 miles and couldn't find anything - extended it to 75, and tons of stuff came stuff. Ultimately, though, I checked those cheap (free!) magazines you pick up at grocery stores which advertise for tons of dealers - I find my sol that way, it was at a Nissan/Volvo dealer I never would have looked at or found otherwise.

Also, I would steer towards a 1995 if you can help it because it had all the options - dual airbags, low fuel light, trunk release, et. al. - AND had OBDI, which is superior to the pain-in-the-ass that is OBDII.