Who doesn’t dream of living by the beach? While some landlubbers may prefer living far from the water, many of us dream of life near sea and sand.
Unfortunately, the high demand for properties near the beach means these homes often cost more. But not always.
Some beach towns have homes that are downright affordable, according to a recent survey by Realtor.com.
The numbers crunchers at Realtor.com looked at homes close to the beach listed for sale in the past year, and created a list of the most affordable beach towns based on home price per square foot.
To qualify for the list, locations must have had at least 50 listings within one mile of the water in the past year. In addition, Realtor.com limited the list to one city per state.
Following are the beach towns in the U.S. with the most affordable homes.
Gulfport, Mississippi
Median home price within 1 mile of a beach here: $224,900 ($144 per square foot)
Gulfport has 26 miles of beach on the Gulf of Mexico, offering plenty of sand for the area’s 72,000 residents.
Angela Clark, a real estate agent with Re/Max Results in Real Estate, tells Realtor.com:
“For years, we’ve had tons of snowbirds who come down here from the North for the winters. You can go deep-sea fishing, be on a barrier island, then have a nice dinner at one of our casinos.”
Newport News, Virginia
Median home price within 1 mile of a beach here: $200,000 ($150 per square foot)
Home to the largest shipyard in the U.S., Newport News has beaches that border both the Atlantic Ocean and the James River.
New London, Connecticut
Median home price within 1 mile of a beach here: $257,000 ($175 per square foot)
As Realtor.com notes, Connecticut is not known for having cheap housing prices. In fact, the housing market in the state is about 20% more expensive than the U.S. median.
However, New London is an exception. As Keith Turner, mortgage lender with Homestead Funding, tells Realtor.com, the city is a “little gem of affordability”:
“It’s a true seaport town. It’s got community. You know your neighbors here. It’s not like those other touristy New England towns.”
Grand Isle, Louisiana
Median home price within 1 mile of a beach here: $309,500 ($190 per square foot)
Those who love fishing or birding will be enchanted with Grand Isle, Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island.
Corpus Christi, Texas
Median home price within 1 mile of a beach here: $289,948 ($206 per square foot)
Corpus Christi is home to the Laguna Madre, one of only six hypersaline lagoons in the world. The water is saltier than what you will find in the ocean, so you will float a little easier.
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Median home price within 1 mile of a beach here: $185,000 ($213 per square foot)
Atlantic City is home to both the world’s first boardwalk and the creation of salt-water taffy. If the names of the streets sound familiar, it’s because they were used in the iconic board game Monopoly.
Navarre, Florida
Median home price within 1 mile of a beach here: $442,500 ($240 per square foot)
If you are looking for a quiet life by the sea, Navarre might be for you. The town is nestled between Gulf Islands National Seashore and Navarre Beach Marine Park.
North Beach, Maryland
Median home price within 1 mile of a beach here: $384,495 ($245 per square foot)
North Beach has something for everyone. History buffs will appreciate the Bayside History Museum, while nature lovers will be at home in Wetlands Overlook Park.
Crescent City, California
Median home price within 1 mile of a beach here: $329,000 ($248 per square foot)
Crescent City gets its name from the town’s crescent-shaped strand of sandy beach. You will find plenty of mom-and-pop shops and restaurants here.
Shirley, New York
Median home price within 1 mile of a beach here: $414,990 ($256 per square foot)
If you love the great outdoors, Shirley offers the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge. You will also find Smith Point County Park, Fire Island National Seashore and the Wildwood State Park nearby.
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