When you think about your ideal place to live, is it in a busy metropolis? A quiet rural area? An isolated cottage in the woods?
How about someplace near the beach, where you have a view of the water? If this is your dream, it’s not as out of reach as you may believe.
Beach houses are notoriously expensive, but some beach towns are reasonably priced. You can make your dream of sand and surf come true by living in one of these affordable towns.
1. Port Arthur, Texas
The Cajun Capital of Texas is a great town to relocate to, whether you’re raising a family or are a retiree. Places like Pleasure Island and Sea Rim State Park offer activities from boating and birding to kayaking and swimming.
Another appealing feature of living in Port Arthur is the incredibly reasonable cost of living. With a median home price of $93,728, it offers a taste of shore life without the high price tag.
2. Freeport, Texas
Freeport, Texas, has many seashore activities, like water skiing, jet skiing, offshore fishing, and camping on the beach. If you love being near water, you’ll love living there.
Other outdoor pursuits include boating, and if you want to spend some time on the land, you can always catch some rounds of golf. If you’re thinking of relocating there, the median home price is $124,056.
3. Grand Isle, Louisiana
With a history dating back to 1781, Grand Isle has a rich culture that’s bound to impress. As the only barrier island in Louisiana that’s inhabited, you’ll have all the privacy you want and access to beautiful beaches.
Grand Isle may not be well-known outside of the state, but it’s a town you’ll want to get familiar with, especially with a median home price of $159,008. It’s ideal for single people, couples, and families.
4. Pascagoula, Mississippi
This coastal Mississippi town has some of the freshest fare you can imagine with its gulf-to-table seafood like shrimp, king crab legs, and clams. The food alone will make you want to move there!
Besides the delicious food, Pascagoula is a wonderful town for angling enthusiasts, with both freshwater and saltwater fishing available. The town’s average home price of $164,900 is a bargain.
5. Port Lavaca, Texas
Located in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico region in Texas, Port Lavaca is a hidden gem in a massive state. It offers quite a few attractions for residents and visitors. The historic Halfmoon Reef Lighthouse is one such landmark.
Boaters can set sail from Nautical Landings Marina or park an RV at Lighthouse Beach Park and Campground, with a pavilion, playground, and picnic area near the beach. Port Lavaca offers all this and more and has an average home price of $164,922.
6. Mobile, Alabama
With the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico touching its shores, Mobile, Alabama, is a shore town with an adjacent island to visit! Dauphin Island, located just 45 minutes from Mobile, is the definition of fun.
The beaches of Dauphin Island are the only pet-friendly ones in the entire state, so you can let the pups splash and play. Their humans can enjoy Bayou La Batre, made famous in Forrest Gump. The median price of a home in Mobile is a reasonable $181,694.
7. Gulfport, Mississippi
White sand beaches span six miles in Gulfport, making it a prime destination for anyone who wants to have a beach experience regularly. The beach has a pier for fishing, a volleyball net, and a fenced-in playground.
Away from the beach is the Mississippi Aquarium, where you can learn about different ocean species. Go a little further inland to check out the art scene in Fishbone Alley. The median home price? Only $185,508.
8. Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick is the main port to enter Georgia’s Golden Isles. If you’re unfamiliar with the Golden Isles, they’re the gorgeous islands and towns in the state. One visit there and you’ll want to move there.
The median home price in Brunswick is $192,500, and you get a lot for your money. It offers beach town and small-town appeal with its historic Old Town area, including Old City Hall and Mary Ross Waterfront Park.
9. Atlantic City, New Jersey
It may be known as the East Coast casino capital, but Atlantic City is also the ultimate beach town. A part of the miles of beachfront is lined with the iconic Atlantic City Boardwalk, with its eclectic shops.
New Jersey beach towns like Avalon and Stone Harbor are notoriously exclusive and expensive. However, the median home price in Atlantic City is $200,056, making it a much more affordable option.
10. Biloxi, Mississippi
For a taste of Gulf Coast culture, try Biloxi, Mississippi. You can relax on its white sand beaches, take a jet ski out on the warm waters, or sail around on one of the Biloxi Schooners.
The beaches of Biloxi aren’t its only attractions. There are two entertainment districts downtown, and a historic area that loops around to the beach. You can have the best of both worlds for a median home price of $212,709.
11. Jacksonville, North Carolina
If Jacksonville, North Carolina, rings a bell, it’s probably because it’s the home of Camp Lejeune. The town has beaches, and its blueways or waterways offer amazing views of native plants and wildlife.
Jacksonville pays homage to its military roots with landmarks like the Lejeune Memorial Gardens, Freedom Fountain, the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Reflection Pool, and several memorials. The median home price in the town is $233,713.
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