Something about the coast lures people in, but the biggest issue for beach lovers is often that the lifestyle isn't affordable. There are some towns in America where the beach lifestyle might be financially within reach for more people, however.
Realtor.com recently ranked the most affordable beach town in 2023; some surprises were on the list.
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport was ranked as the country's most affordable beach town. The area is known for having reasonably priced housing and fantastic Southern food. Gulfport is located around the halfway point between Mississippi's Louisiana and Alabama borders.
The median price for a house within a mile of the beach in Gulfport is around $224,900, according to Realtor.com.
Newport News, Virginia
Around 40 miles north of Virginia Beach is Newport News, which has a lot of history and has a median home price of just $200,000 for properties within a mile of the beach. Newport News is where the James River connects with the Chesapeake Bay—and it was one of the first North American English settlement locations.
New London, Connecticut
Realtor.com says New London is a hidden gem and one of the most affordable beach towns. The town is to the west of Mystic by just a few miles, yet the homes in Mystic are around three times as much per square foot as they are in New London. If you're looking for a home within a mile of the beach, the median home price is around $257,000, yet the area has some of Connecticut's best beaches.
Grand Isle, Louisiana
Grand Isle is ranked fourth on the list of the best beach towns in America for affordability. Grand Isle is a barrier island that connects to the Louisiana mainland by a bridge. It's the smallest town ranked by Realtor.com, and for properties within a mile of the beach, the median home price is $309,500.
Corpus Christie, Texas
Corpus Christie is on the Gulf of Mexico, the biggest city on the Realtor.com list based on population. The beaches of Corpus Christie span around 192 square miles, so you have many options. The median housing price is just under $290,000 for property within a mile of the beach.
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City lost its luster for years, but it's starting to regain its reputation as a popular beach town. Atlantic City is primarily known for its casinos and boardwalk, but you can also find a good deal on the house here. The median price for homes in Atlantic City within a mile of the beach is just $185,000.
Navarre, Florida
Navarre has beautiful beaches with white sand, around 20 miles east of Pensacola. Navarre has a median home price of $442,500 if you want to be within a mile of the shoreline.
North Beach, Maryland
North Beach is 30 miles south of Washington, D.C., and within a mile of the beach, you can expect to pay a median home price of $384,495.
Crescent City, California
It might be surprising to see a California name on this list, since the state is notoriously unaffordable, but Crescent City is ranked number nine on Realtor.com.
Crescent City is around 20 miles south of the border with Oregon, and the home price with a mile of the beach is a median of $329,000.
Shirley, New York
Finally, Shirley is a small Long Island town about 1 ½ hours from Manhattan. The median home price within a mile of the beach is $414,990.
