A Beautiful Vacation Home Might Be More Affordable Than You Think

For many people, going on vacation is a long-awaited dream, a trip carefully saved for and eagerly anticipated. The moment you arrive at your destination -- whether it's a cozy mountain retreat, a charming beachside cottage, or a serene lakeside escape -- you instantly feel at home and never want to leave. Now, with homes available for under $54,000 in some of these dream locations, making your vacation spot a permanent residence is more attainable than ever. These affordable communities offer something for everyone, turning your getaway into a place you can truly call home.

Methodology

To determine affordable homes in certain vacation spots for under $53,000, Moms Who Think reviewed five years of 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 500 residents where at least 40% of housing units are vacant for seasonal or recreational use were considered.

50. Casper Mountain, WY

Median home value: $423,400 (3.0 times income)
Median household income: $140,556
Total population: 671

49. Long Lake, NY

Median home value: $202,100 (3.0 times income)
Median household income: $67,917
Total population: 666

48. Saw Creek, PA

Median home value: $196,500 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $67,331
Total population: 4,071

47. Lake Carroll, IL

Median home value: $285,400 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $99,297
Total population: 758

46. Port O'Connor, TX

Median home value: $256,600 (2.8 times income)
Median household income: $91,150
Total population: 791

45. Basye, VA

Median home value: $241,900 (2.8 times income)
Median household income: $86,028
Total population: 1,341

44. Towamensing Trails, PA

Median home value: $216,200 (2.8 times income)
Median household income: $76,983
Total population: 1,712

43. Port Austin, MI

Median home value: $147,100 (2.8 times income)
Median household income: $53,125
Total population: 667

42. Big River, CA

Median home value: $128,200 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $47,222
Total population: 1,028

41. Fawn Lake Forest, PA

Median home value: $211,300 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $78,036
Total population: 667

40. Caseville, MI

Median home value: $142,900 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $52,917
Total population: 674

39. Lake Waynoka, OH

Median home value: $226,400 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $84,063
Total population: 1,103

38. Cordry Sweetwater Lakes, IN

Median home value: $283,300 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $105,673
Total population: 1,328

37. The Galena Territory, IL

Median home value: $291,300 (2.6 times income)
Median household income: $112,250
Total population: 1,606

36. Cleora, OK

Median home value: $199,600 (2.6 times income)
Median household income: $77,604
Total population: 1,508

35. Blue Ridge Shores, VA

Median home value: $232,900 (2.6 times income)
Median household income: $90,938
Total population: 666

34. Mountain Lakes, NH

Median home value: $150,800 (2.6 times income)
Median household income: $59,107
Total population: 597

33. Lakes of the North, MI

Median home value: $158,300 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $62,179
Total population: 1,031

32. Old Forge, NY

Median home value: $335,200 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $132,645
Total population: 573

31. Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH

Median home value: $115,600 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $45,755
Total population: 1,085

30. Conneaut Lakeshore, PA

Median home value: $169,000 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $67,063
Total population: 1,933

29. Wells, NY

Median home value: $189,700 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $75,583
Total population: 571

28. Smallwood, NY

Median home value: $157,400 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $63,909
Total population: 666

27. Sylvan Beach, NY

Median home value: $118,400 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $48,125
Total population: 856

26. Bass Lake, IN

Median home value: $170,300 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $70,110
Total population: 1,018

25. Woodridge, NY

Median home value: $167,900 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $70,313
Total population: 936

24. Saybrook-on-the-Lake, OH

Median home value: $144,600 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $61,094
Total population: 1,112

23. Sand Lake, MI

Median home value: $109,100 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $46,250
Total population: 1,178

22. Lake Medina Shores, TX

Median home value: $132,000 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $56,200
Total population: 532

21. Chokoloskee, FL

Median home value: $213,000 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $91,080
Total population: 1,061

20. Oak Run, IL

Median home value: $267,300 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $117,375
Total population: 673

19. Caroga Lake, NY

Median home value: $114,700 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $50,565
Total population: 577

18. Elsah, IL

Median home value: $187,500 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $83,125
Total population: 629

17. Pocono Pines, PA

Median home value: $211,100 (2.2 times income)
Median household income: $95,833
Total population: 654

16. Rangeley, ME

Median home value: $105,600 (2.2 times income)
Median household income: $48,026
Total population: 568

15. Round Top, NY

Median home value: $199,000 (2.1 times income)
Median household income: $94,353
Total population: 663

14. Wallenpaupack Lake Estates, PA

Median home value: $185,700 (2.1 times income)
Median household income: $90,408
Total population: 1,075

13. Lake Michigan Beach, MI

Median home value: $163,800 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $81,023
Total population: 918

12. Chippewa Park, OH

Median home value: $118,000 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $58,661
Total population: 650

11. Pymatuning Central, PA

Median home value: $116,200 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $58,068
Total population: 2,325

10. Daufuskie Island, SC

Median home value: $290,400 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $146,349
Total population: 569

9. St. Helen, MI

Median home value: $76,000 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $38,445
Total population: 2,822

8. Legend Lake, WI

Median home value: $160,700 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $86,563
Total population: 1,530

7. Atlanta, MI

Median home value: $68,000 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $38,000
Total population: 576

6. Thunderbird Bay, TX

Median home value: $76,700 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $43,750
Total population: 766

5. Indian Lake, MO

Median home value: $182,400 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $105,108
Total population: 1,000

4. Salome, AZ

Median home value: $116,600 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $79,745
Total population: 708

3. Lake Colorado City, TX

Median home value: $90,200 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $65,000
Total population: 903

2. Desert Edge, CA

Median home value: $53,600 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $38,668
Total population: 3,715

1. Buffalo, IN

Median home value: $137,800 (1.1 times income)
Median household income: $120,333
Total population: 776