Many of us visit the great outdoors on vacation. We may get a week or two, or perhaps even just a weekend, to experience nature at its finest and explore the beautiful scenic trails and forests nature has to offer, whether biking and camping or swimming and hiking. For families who love to be outdoors for more than a few days, the notion of living in a hiking town is ideal.
The hiking towns we have listed here offer a multitude of trails to explore and plenty of vistas from which to draw inspiration. Even better, these areas have incredibly affordable homes that you can nab for less than $63,000.
To determine the most affordable hiking towns, Moms Who Think reviewed five-year data on median household value and median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey. Cities, towns, and Census-designated places were ranked based on the ratio of median home value to median household income.
Only places with at least 2,500 residents and at least half a mile of hiking trail per 10 square miles of land area were included. Spatial data on hiking trails is from the U.S. Forest Service.
50. Choccolocco, AL
- Median home value: $218,800 (3.2 times income)
- Median household income: $67,975
- Total population: 2,776
49. Dalton, GA
- Median home value: $182,500 (3.2 times income)
- Median household income: $57,163
- Total population: 34,358
48. Los Alamos, NM
- Median home value: $410,100 (3.1 times income)
- Median household income: $130,342
- Total population: 13,460
47. Baldwin, GA
- Median home value: $150,700 (3.1 times income)
- Median household income: $48,234
- Total population: 3,817
46. Superior, AZ
- Median home value: $123,600 (3.1 times income)
- Median household income: $39,600
- Total population: 2,639
45. Montpelier, ID
- Median home value: $158,000 (3.1 times income)
- Median household income: $50,668
- Total population: 2,649
44. Lead, SD
- Median home value: $169,800 (3.1 times income)
- Median household income: $54,555
- Total population: 2,993
43. Big Stone Gap, VA
- Median home value: $163,000 (3.1 times income)
- Median household income: $52,663
- Total population: 5,221
42. Buena Vista, VA
- Median home value: $148,800 (3.1 times income)
- Median household income: $48,783
- Total population: 6,639
41. Sierra Vista, AZ
- Median home value: $215,900 (3.0 times income)
- Median household income: $70,899
- Total population: 45,212
40. Clifton Forge, VA
- Median home value: $97,400 (3.0 times income)
- Median household income: $32,007
- Total population: 3,541
39. Hollins, VA
- Median home value: $214,400 (3.0 times income)
- Median household income: $71,530
- Total population: 16,386
38. Summerset, SD
- Median home value: $290,500 (3.0 times income)
- Median household income: $98,194
- Total population: 2,950
37. Corbin, KY
- Median home value: $155,700 (2.9 times income)
- Median household income: $52,929
- Total population: 8,611
36. Avery Creek, NC
- Median home value: $307,800 (2.9 times income)
- Median household income: $104,808
- Total population: 3,338
35. Green River, WY
- Median home value: $244,600 (2.9 times income)
- Median household income: $83,497
- Total population: 11,772
34. Alamogordo, NM
- Median home value: $148,500 (2.9 times income)
- Median household income: $50,721
- Total population: 30,996
33. Oracle, AZ
- Median home value: $187,300 (2.9 times income)
- Median household income: $64,247
- Total population: 3,146
32. White Rock, NM
- Median home value: $420,000 (2.9 times income)
- Median household income: $144,661
- Total population: 5,592
31. Globe, AZ
- Median home value: $187,100 (2.9 times income)
- Median household income: $64,516
- Total population: 7,230
30. Etowah, TN
- Median home value: $122,500 (2.9 times income)
- Median household income: $42,571
- Total population: 3,614
29. Norton, VA
- Median home value: $104,200 (2.8 times income)
- Median household income: $36,974
- Total population: 3,668
28. Blue Ridge, VA
- Median home value: $237,000 (2.8 times income)
- Median household income: $84,766
- Total population: 2,994
27. Shenandoah, VA
- Median home value: $177,700 (2.8 times income)
- Median household income: $64,410
- Total population: 3,020
26. Lakeview, OR
- Median home value: $143,800 (2.7 times income)
- Median household income: $52,574
- Total population: 2,947
25. Spring Creek, NV
- Median home value: $299,500 (2.7 times income)
- Median household income: $109,952
- Total population: 15,062
24. Eagar, AZ
- Median home value: $210,100 (2.5 times income)
- Median household income: $82,538
- Total population: 4,425
23. Marienville, PA
- Median home value: $109,800 (2.5 times income)
- Median household income: $43,403
- Total population: 3,191
22. Marion, NC
- Median home value: $122,200 (2.5 times income)
- Median household income: $48,520
- Total population: 7,652
21. Toccoa, GA
- Median home value: $124,400 (2.5 times income)
- Median household income: $49,860
- Total population: 9,055
20. Paris, AR
- Median home value: $112,400 (2.5 times income)
- Median household income: $45,505
- Total population: 3,214
19. Summerville, GA
- Median home value: $68,300 (2.5 times income)
- Median household income: $27,694
- Total population: 4,381
18. Russell, KY
- Median home value: $199,100 (2.5 times income)
- Median household income: $80,750
- Total population: 3,704
17. Grants, NM
- Median home value: $137,100 (2.5 times income)
- Median household income: $55,631
- Total population: 9,177
16. Oxford, AL
- Median home value: $161,700 (2.4 times income)
- Median household income: $66,031
- Total population: 22,019
15. Ely, NV
- Median home value: $185,900 (2.4 times income)
- Median household income: $77,076
- Total population: 3,957
14. Piedmont, AL
- Median home value: $106,500 (2.4 times income)
- Median household income: $44,944
- Total population: 4,761
13. Ironton, OH
- Median home value: $103,500 (2.4 times income)
- Median household income: $43,702
- Total population: 10,597
12. Benson, AZ
- Median home value: $117,800 (2.4 times income)
- Median household income: $49,955
- Total population: 5,318
11. Meadow Lake, NM
- Median home value: $85,600 (2.3 times income)
- Median household income: $36,525
- Total population: 4,745
10. Pearisburg, VA
- Median home value: $160,100 (2.3 times income)
- Median household income: $70,905
- Total population: 2,876
9. Berlin, NH
- Median home value: $93,200 (2.2 times income)
- Median household income: $41,638
- Total population: 9,485
8. Richwood, WV
- Median home value: $68,000 (2.2 times income)
- Median household income: $30,962
- Total population: 2,567
7. Mena, AR
- Median home value: $110,700 (2.1 times income)
- Median household income: $53,288
- Total population: 5,605
6. Warren, PA
- Median home value: $97,100 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $49,609
- Total population: 9,353
5. Flatwoods, KY
- Median home value: $106,600 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $58,294
- Total population: 7,312
4. Covington, VA
- Median home value: $80,100 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $45,737
- Total population: 5,722
3. Ridgway, PA
- Median home value: $84,100 (1.7 times income)
- Median household income: $50,658
- Total population: 4,014
2. Kane, PA
- Median home value: $62,800 (1.4 times income)
- Median household income: $45,481
- Total population: 3,605
1. Clifton, AZ
- Median home value: $65,500 (0.8 times income)
- Median household income: $78,862
- Total population: 3,869
The image featured at the top of this post is ©haveseen / iStock via Getty Images.