most affordable lake towns in the south most affordable lake towns in the south

No. In between shopping, dont miss the reason Ashland is called the Historic Mural Capital of Wisconsin. Roughly two dozen murals dot the downtown district, depicting the lively history of the former logging town. Located just south of the Iowa-Minnesota border, Spirit Lake sits on the western shore of East Okoboji Lake, in the Iowa Great Lakes region. The lakes in the region include Osceola, Maitland (pictured), Minnehaha, Virginia, and Mizell, and those who visit and live in Winter Park can enjoy them all. Next: 25. Howebuyers can settle right into this three-bedroom, one-bathroom home just blocks from Lake Superior. Source: ESB Professional / Shutterstock. And with inflation rising, stock and cryptocurrency markets taking a beating, and fears of another recession mounting, plenty of well-off Americans are holding off on buying yet another home. Lake Wylie is the oldest lake on the Catawba River. The 55-mile-long body of water is ideal for sailing or paddling past historic cabins and sprawling vineyards. For more places to explore, check out The South's Greatest Lakes and The South's Best Small Towns. The family-friendly area boasts water sports and a drive-in movie theater in the summer months with plenty of hockey, ice fishing and other outdoor winter sports during the colder parts of the year. 3 . In addition to lakeside living, residents also take advantage of the prime fishing, picnic, and camping spots, and a scenic paved trail for bikes and pedestrians that winds through the town and around Lake Kampeska. This four-bedroom with views of Sandusky Bay is listed at $355,000. Most people visit Florida for its beaches, but land-locked in the center of the Sunshine State is Winter Haven, a spot known for its Chain of Lakes. A suburb of Lafayette, Scott is the third most affordable city in Louisiana. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Rangeley Lake is known for terrific fishing (it's a trout and salmon hub), swimming, canoeing, and kayaking. About half an hour from Orlando, Clermont is the heart of this multi-lake community and is also close to Lake Louisa (the largest of the Clermont Chain of Lakes). Florence, Alabama. Sandusky, OH. The median home price in Dillon is $125,400. A vacation in a lake town is a guaranteed dose of old-fashioned family fun. Trout fishing is popular on Lake Taneycomo. Vacation homes are still affordable in Winsted. Tucked into Chequamegon Bay on the south shore of Lake Superior, Ashland is rich with local history, arts and culture, and natural beauty. A majority of the population is seasonal. 1. The unique 1.88-acre, lake-to-bay lot offers views from every window in the 8,800-square-foot home. Situated near Columbia, South Carolina's capital city, and just a short drive from Lake Murraya 50,000-acre reservoir with more than 600 miles of shorelineLexington is a great place to live. Each year, with the arrival of the dog days of summer, the desire to find a place by the water becomes nothing less than a national obsession. In terms of housing, though, Dillon is much cheaper than those numbers suggest. Those interested in a vacation getaway can snag this four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom house located about 1.4 miles from the Guy Sandy boat ramp on Arbuckle Lake for $275,000. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Sailing, fishing and kayaking are also popular pursuits. If the skys the limit, buyers can check out a four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom mansion on Cedar Point Road listed for roughly $2.4 million. This three-bedroom, single-family house asking $205,000 offers down payment assistance for buyers who earn under a certain income. Lake Greenwood in Lake Greenwood State Park, located right outside the towns of Ninety Six (yes, real name) and Greenwood, offers 11,400-acres of floating fun. Chattanooga, Tennessee. The small town, which made our 2020 and 2019 lists, offers something for everyone, from nature lovers to history buffs and foodies to golfers. The New York Finger Lakes region is a pristine part of the state with 11 glistening bodies of water, each lined by towns with character. Its a way to feel secure about making payment, so they can float it if the world turns upside down, he says. Cliff Billingsley/Getty Images. Chattanooga area residents spend just 21.86% of the area's median household income on housing expenses, including mortgage payments, rent, property taxes and utilities. 25. Even though only 120 people live here full-time, in the summer the Canadian border town attracts hundreds to the resorts and campsites near the shores of the 3,088-acre lake. Meanwhile, downtown is filled with antiques stores, restaurants, and small boutiques. We see a trend across all our markets of buyers thinking, Life is short, buy the lake home! Many of those seek out the more rural lake towns where homes may be relatively more affordable than at larger lakes or at lakes near cities, says Phillips. Marshals in South Carolina Friday afternoon. 10: Jordan Lake, average home listing $340,734. 3: Georgetown, South Carolina. The most affordable small town in every state. We also factored in the number of restaurants, bars, and entertainment establishments per capita to ensure there was more to do in these places than just lounge by the water. Traveling with kids or an inner child at heart? The first is its sheer size. With world-class skiing nearby, Lake Placid hosted both the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. Weve become a year-round vacation destination now because of the resorts, indoor water parks, and other amenities in the area, he adds. This three-bedroom across the street from Big Bass Lake was listed at $229,000. People are realizing they dont have to be in the city and suburbs, so they can be out there, says Stephen Bednarski, a real estate agent with Mark Martin and Company. Summer and fall in the South Lake Tahoe area is synonymous with boat rentals, hiking Rubicon Trail for views of the lake, dining al fresco at Boathouse on the Pier, and sunsets savored with a bottle of wine. Its possible to get a single-family home right on one of the smaller lakes in the $100,000 range, like this three-bedroom on Center Lake for $119,800. Alaska might not be the first place most folks think of when they envision summer lake towns. 5. The trooper had successful surgery Thursday and is in "great spirits," Attorney General Matt . With beautiful mountain scenery, the nearby lake (about 15 miles away), and lots of waterfall-dotted hiking trails, there's not shortage of enjoyment to be had in Western North Carolina. Its perfect for outdoor recreation with acres to hike and canoe. #21 in Best Mountain Towns to Visit in the USA. 10. There is also an active and vibrant local arts scene thanks to the Lake Placid Center for the Arts. Caddo Lake - Karnack. The median listing price in 2020 was a very affordable $107,792. Alabama's Lake Town lives up to its moniker by offering plenty of activities on and off the water. Beaufort, North Carolina. * The average of monthly, median list prices for all homes in the city (not just lake houses) from January 2022 through May 2022, using Realtor.com data. Vergennes and the area bordering Lake Champlain have an old-world New England feel - which stands to reason, as Vergennes was founded in 1788. Treat your family to a boat tour aboard the M/S Mount Washington, which has been cruising the lake for nearly 150 years, and if you're looking for a charming hotel, Pickering House Inn is just the place. Prices include all homes in these towns, including those on a lake. Residents, many of whom move to the village for retirement, spend their days paddleboarding, fishing and swimming in the lakes or walking along 30 miles of forested trails. (Fun fact: Big Spirit Lake is home to 40 different species of fish.). Caddo Lake / Shutterstock. Eureka Springs is situated near several bodies of water, including Lake Leatherwood in the city limits and the enormous nearby Beaver Lake, as well as Table Rock Lake, which is located just across the Missouri border. 1. Lake Tahoe is one of the most popular year-round destinations in California - and when you see the sunshine ricochet off the lake in the summer months, you'll see why it's just as enticing in June as it is in the height of ski season. Median home sales price: $175,000. Lake Tahoe is so big (22 miles long and 12 miles wide) that it straddles . Lakeway Resort & Spa is the place to be in the area - not just for those looking for a lovely lakeside hotel, but for those renting in the area who want to book a spa day or dinner at the resort. Little wonder Lake Chelan is such a popular vacation destination for 12 to 14 weeks per year. Ogden, Utah. Just a three-hour drive, the idyllic glacial valley, located across the Cascade Range in the high desert, centers on the crystal-clear waters of Lake Chelan. Just 12 miles from Minneapolis, the lake town is one of Niche's top suburbs in the state, grading highly in nearly every quality-of-life category from crime to education. Nestled into the scenic foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, this picturesque community is home to Highland Lake, one of the largest lakes in Connecticut and a popular spot for residents to beat the summer heat. The most affordable town on the list is Jamestown, N.Y., with a median list price of just $59,000, but if you desire a two-bedroom home with a private shoreline that can raise the price significantly. However, the Salmon Capital of the World, as Ketchikan is known, is built up along the waterfront due to its steep and mostly forested terrain. Share of household income . Buyers can find homes like this three-bedroom, two-bathroom lakeside abode, listed for $449,000. California, Omaha, and Minnesota are among the most popular transplant states. Its possible to get a house in this area for just over $100,000, such as this cute three-bedroomasking $115,000. Statesboro's place among America's cheapest small towns is largely due to housing costs, which are 32% lower compared with the national average. It is so beautiful that the locals of the Texas Hill Country have given it the nickname of "The Jewel". Admire the view of the Tennessee River from the McFarland Park Fishing Pier and be sure to grab a bite to eat at Stanfield's River Bottom Grill with a dockside view of the harbor. Whether you're renting a lake house for the summer, or looking for a lakeside long weekend to book this fall, these are the 15 best lake towns in America. Scout a rental property to live out your Southern lake dream sequence, or stay at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee in Greensboro for waterfront five-star accommodations. Sandpoint, Idaho, is the most expensive of the affordable lake towns, with a median list price of $429,000 and a variety of lakefront houses that . The lake is named after the town of Burton which is now situated at the bottom of the lake. Theres also the noteworthy shops and restaurants located in the towns eight-block business district, which happens to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Pronounced "Bowfort" (not "Bewfert" like its South Carolina namesake), this colonial-era village embraces its pirate history. When you're not exploring the surrounding lakes, enjoy the small-town charms of Clermont, from the Downtown Clermont Farmer's Market every Sunday to the shopping along Montrose Street in Clermont's Historic Village. Best Lake Towns To Retire To in the South, 12 Lesser-Known Southern Destinations Our Editors Can't Wait To Visit In 2023, The Best Mother-Daughter Vacations to Take This Summer, 10 Prettiest Places for Fall Foliage in Tennessee, Pass Christian Is the Mississippi Beach Town You've Probably Never Heard Of, Affordable Florida Beach Towns Perfect For Your Next Vacation, 18 Perfect Fall Girlfriend Getaways To Plan Immediately. It's an ideal setting for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of large cities. Watch: Relax for Less: The 10 Most Affordable U.S. Beach Towns for Homebuyers. The charming red-brick downtown is filled with fun shops and restaurants. Methodology: GOBankingRates found 25 affordable waterfront cities by evaluating 112 of the United . The city sits about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. Consider a visit to the LEGOLAND Theme Park. Located approximately 35 miles south of the Kennedy Space Center, Melbourne residents average $853 on monthly housing costs, ranking 12 th for this metric. Port Aransas. Enjoy the natural beauty while hiking through the park, or set out for a swim in nearby Greers Ferry Lake. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Kick up your feet at the Inn on the Square between grub sessions at Good Times Brewing at The Mill House and the Cheeseburger House. Nine miles west of Cleveland is Rocky River, Ohio, a town of 20,000 ranked #24 by Niche in the entire state for best suburbs. Michigan is home to dozens of Great Lakes towns, many interchangeable, all fantastic. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Homes can vary widely in price: A single-family fixer-upper on the water can go for around $250,000 or into the millions.. * Median home list prices as of June from Realtor.com. There's also plenty of nature . Closer to town, those similar units near the large body of water go for at least an extra $100,000if not moresuch as this three-bedroom asking $539,000. The house, which sits on nearly a quarter-acre, offers views of Lake Kampeska from the deck. 24. There's something for every travel palette in this town, from the boutique shops and locally-owned restaurants, to the 9,000-foot-plus peaks boasting hiking and mountain biking trails, to the seemingly unlimited boating and water sport opportunities on the clear blue water of Lake Chelan. Family-friendly activities abound at our number one Best Place to Buy a Lake House. Lake Wylie covers over 13,000 acres, with a shoreline of 325 miles. Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania. Cayuga Lake is known for its stunning wine trail and Aurora, nestled right on the shores of Cayuga, is in close proximity to wineries along the lake as well as wineries lining the adjacent Seneca Lake. Big Bear Lake is a year-round California destination because, much like Tahoe, it transforms from a ski town in the winter to a lake town in the summer. Chelan offers housing options at a wide range of price points. Connected to Marion through a water bridge called the Diversion Canal, Lake Moultrie is a smaller lake but is still the third largest lake in South Carolina. Aside from focusing on the worlds largest collection of standing totem poles, amateur photographers can point their cameras in nearly any direction and capture a gorgeous view of the citys jaw-dropping natural beauty. Butler is located on the northern shore of Watauga Lake, and is actually the reconstruction of the "old" Butler. Lake Tahoe, California. This five-bedroom, two-bedroom house is listed for $325,000. The undulating vistas of the Smoky Mountains make for an idyllic backdrop to life at Rarity Bay on Tellico Lake. Boone, North Carolina. Set on the banks of Lake Erie, the popular vacation destination offers a revitalized downtown with good shopping and dining. Known as a major vacation destination, Lake Ariel is surrounded by the gently rolling hills of the Poconos Mountains. With a population of roughly 14,500, Lake Ariel is among the quieter, more peaceful lake towns. The beauty of Aurora, apart from the gorgeous sunsets on Cayuga Lake, is that you have culture, incredible food and wine, and water activities at your fingertips. While it's near the big central Florida tourist attractions, it has its own charm, with greenspaces like Central Park and museums like The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, and Cornell Fine Arts Museum. For many looking to escape the city, it became a great place this summer to social distance and enjoy the outdoors. Clemson, with the cultural draws of the university and the South Carolina Botanical Garden is just a stone's throw across the water. Crestline, California. The Lake of the Woods area is perfect for spending one's golden years of retirement. Those four-season attractions have made the areas lake homes a hot commodity among second homeowners. If Queen Dolly Partons Stampede and live country music shows arent your thing, check out the Titanic Museum, with 400 pre-Discovery artifacts spread across 20 gallerieswhich can be enjoyed in the blissful A/C. Branson, MO (Table Rock Lake & Lake Taneycomo) Table Rock Lake, MO Photo courtesy of wanderthemap.com. Watch the sun set over the town while grabbing a pint at Oconee Brewing Company, or beat the early bird crowd and catch the sunrise with a side of coffee and buttermilk pancakes at Caf 44. And if Dolly has ever spent time here, she didnt leave much of a trace. Thats where the data team at Realtor.com comes in. On the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain is Mandeville, Louisiana, a locale with lots of natural beauty and places to explore in the outdoors. (Sorry.). The Fort Worth side of the lake is more expensive than the Azle side, where prices are lower and the commute is longer (there is no bridge across the lake). 10 of the Best Small Towns on the East Coast, 11 Most Beautiful Lakes in the United States, This Is the Largest Alpine Lake in North America and It's Perfect for Visiting Year-round, 8 Amazing California Road Trips That Take You From Big Sur to the Sierras, These Are the Best Small Towns in the South, 50 Best Romantic Getaways for a Couples Trip, 34 Last-minute Beach Trips to Extend Your Summer, 12 Best Washington State Parks for Camping. For car buffs, the Okoboji Classic Cars Museum is a must-see. Those lucky enough to see a sunset at Lake Kampeska could understand how wildlife artist Terry Redlin was inspired by his surroundings in Watertown. This is a country chock-full of picturesque lakes, from the northeastern shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire and Rangeley Lake in Maine, all the way to the southern California shores of Big Bear Lake. Lake Burton. Striking views, a gorgeous landscape, stunning lakes, and affordable housing? The small lakes around Chestertown have been booming with second home buyers this year, who make up about 80% of the real estate market. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The past few years of the COVID-19 pandemic brought hordes of well-heeled buyers into vacation destinations, bidding up prices and purchasing any and all available real estate. It boasts quaint shops and restaurants that surround the town square and plenty of locals who like to watch the passers-by as they sip beverages on their front porches. Coos Bay, Oregon. A leg of the great Cumberland Trail is accessible at the north end of LaFollette. Condos start as low as $40,000. There are no theme parks or big music shows. There's a stretch of great small towns north of Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana. Rent a house right on the shores of Flathead Lake, or book a cabin at the all-inclusive Flathead Lake Lodge for a memorable dude ranch experience. For those looking for a property as close to the water as possible, there are options. Quincy is an absolute must-see when in Northern California and is considered one of the most affordable towns near Lake Tahoe. Even in the gated community, affordable homes can still be found. But there are also plenty of folks whod prefer to be right in town, within walking distance to dozens of restaurants, the performance center, and the nearly 30 sculptures spread throughout downtown. For a home right on the lake, buyers can find nice single-family homes starting in the $200,000-range, such as this waterfront three-bedroomasking $259,000. When on dry land, you might hit a casino (Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania) or theme park (Branson, Missouri), tubing or go-karting (Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin), or enjoy strolling through the shops and restaurants of a historic district (Vermilion, Ohio).. The community is nestled between the southern shores of the lake and the foothills of the Coeur d'Alene Mountains. Anglers from all over the Midwest flock to this rural destination for the awesome catch on manmade Lake Delton, two local rivers, and other, smaller bodies of water that are surrounded with lovely and affordable homes all along their shorelines. Lake Sara has a bit of everything. Bayview is right on the water (literally), giving it a northwestern island feel, and it is home to the 4,000-acre Farragut State Park. The 26,000-acre census-designated place boasts nine golf courses, dozens of restaurants, 14,000 residents and 11 lakes with plenty of single-family houses and townhomes on the shores. Many places with lake houses have activities. Scott's median income of $55,825 is quite high, which helps offset the slightly higher home prices and rent. Other towns in the area include Lakeland, Lakeview, Lakeside, Osage Beach, Sunrise Beach, and others. 9 Things Youd Better Consider First, Surf and Save? And that is providing an opening for regular folks with steady jobs who have been saving up for just this opportunity to swoop in.