Norco also offers their steel Norco Search XR S2 for $2,000. It's a 2x 10-speed.
I love my 2018 steel Search XR. I've upgraded to GRX all around. The higher end GRX brakes, but the 46/30 crank. And 650b wheels with 2.1 Thunder Burts (These Norcos run both 700c and 650b). 1x is nice, but i like it best for MTB and my Surly ECR for bikepacking. For gravel, i love 2x.
If you're serious about using a gravel bike on both gravel and road (an excellent idea, I do the same), then go with 2x. I rode 1x on a gravel bike for a few months and hated the fact that I spin out on down hills, and the jumps between gears were too big (note: i geared it to have enough gear inches for climbing). I now have a GRX 2x gravel set up and LOVE it for all forms of gravel, dirt and paved roads. There's (almost) nothing I can't climb and on the roads to and from the gravel I can actually make some decent speed. I've got a second set of wheels that I have some Schwalbe Marathon 38's mounted on and I use those plus racks and bags on same said gravel bike for road tours. It's the perfect set up. I've got the Niner RLT9 Steel, probably out of your price range. My son and I just built him a Kona Rove Steel and we set it up almost exactly like my Niner with GRX (in this case a mix of 800 and 600). I think we were able to keep it under $2500 by finding things on sale.
I like my GT Grade for that budget. The aesthetics aren't for everyone but the rear stay arrangement is very effective. I ride it with 43mm Gravel Kings for approx 80% road and 20% mix of everything from gravel to trail. Works great for me. I second the views that you should consider 2x. I've changed the cassette to 11-40 and increased the inner ring to a 32 and this seems ideal - minimal front shifting and a great low gear for steep grades. I'd not manage with 1x for the riding I do, although I'd only use 1x on my MTB.
I recommend 2X - you'll get more gear ratios and a slightly better chain line. I'd use 1X only if the frame wouldn't accommodate 2X or the terrain were rough enough to cause chain drops or you never see steep hills.
