Discover Budget-Friendly Homes in These Picturesque Fishing Towns

Buying a home can be costly, and if you're considering living near a major city, prices can soar, making homeownership seem out of reach, especially for first-time buyers. However, there are still many opportunities for those determined to own a home. Even better, for fishing enthusiasts, some of the most budget-friendly areas are fishing towns where homes are as affordable as a new car.

Urban settings may be highly desirable for many but there is no denying that these locals are missing what many suburban and rural settings provide - waterfront living, which, for those who call fishing their hobby, is an ideal location to call home. Whether you're looking to purchase your first home, or perhaps want to buy a weekend escape from city life, homes in these affordable fishing towns are ideal.

Methodology

To determine the most affordable fishing 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 100 owner-occupied housing units and a federally recognized hunting area with fishing available within a 15-mile radius were included. Spatial data on hunting areas specified by available game is from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

50. Murphysboro, IL

Median home value: $80,200 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $41,535
Total population: 7,101
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

49. Energy, IL

Median home value: $130,200 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $67,713
Total population: 1,227
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

48. Hamshire, TX

Median home value: $226,300 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $118,412
Total population: 1,568
Nearest hunting area with fish: McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge

47. Hurst, IL

Median home value: $71,700 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $37,639
Total population: 769
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

46. Cassville, WI

Median home value: $108,800 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $57,143
Total population: 731
Nearest hunting area with fish: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

45. Oceanville, NJ

Median home value: $302,000 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $158,967
Total population: 826
Nearest hunting area with fish: Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

44. Minorca, LA

Median home value: $82,000 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $43,438
Total population: 1,398
Nearest hunting area with fish: St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge

43. Herrin, IL

Median home value: $102,400 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $54,555
Total population: 12,344
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

42. Camp Douglas, WI

Median home value: $108,000 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $58,750
Total population: 739
Nearest hunting area with fish: Necedah National Wildlife Refuge

41. Brandon, WI

Median home value: $145,400 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $79,688
Total population: 842
Nearest hunting area with fish: Horicon National Wildlife Refuge

40. Newellton, LA

Median home value: $46,600 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $25,614
Total population: 896
Nearest hunting area with fish: Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge

39. Preston, IA

Median home value: $147,900 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $81,542
Total population: 1,005
Nearest hunting area with fish: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

38. Bridge City, TX

Median home value: $172,200 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $95,688
Total population: 9,461
Nearest hunting area with fish: Sabine National Wildlife Refuge

37. Towner, ND

Median home value: $90,300 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $51,500
Total population: 456
Nearest hunting area with fish: J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge

36. Spillertown, IL

Median home value: $118,300 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $68,125
Total population: 315
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

35. West Frankfort, IL

Median home value: $71,700 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $41,974
Total population: 7,168
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

34. Marine View, WA

Median home value: $97,100 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $57,500
Total population: 336
Nearest hunting area with fish: Hanford Reach National Monument

33. Rio Hondo, TX

Median home value: $97,700 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $58,487
Total population: 2,295
Nearest hunting area with fish: Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

32. Patrick, SC

Median home value: $50,500 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $30,263
Total population: 500
Nearest hunting area with fish: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

31. De Soto, IL

Median home value: $86,300 (1.6 times income)
Median household income: $53,188
Total population: 1,684
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

30. De Valls Bluff, AR

Median home value: $37,400 (1.6 times income)
Median household income: $23,056
Total population: 560
Nearest hunting area with fish: Cache River National Wildlife Refuge

29. West Orange, TX

Median home value: $98,200 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $63,409
Total population: 3,444
Nearest hunting area with fish: Sabine National Wildlife Refuge

28. North Hartsville, SC

Median home value: $109,800 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $71,000
Total population: 3,261
Nearest hunting area with fish: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

27. Cotton Plant, AR

Median home value: $27,700 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $18,250
Total population: 425
Nearest hunting area with fish: Cache River National Wildlife Refuge

26. Goreville, IL

Median home value: $110,400 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $73,523
Total population: 1,146
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

25. DeWitt, AR

Median home value: $70,500 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $47,147
Total population: 3,017
Nearest hunting area with fish: Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge

24. Thomson, IL

Median home value: $100,700 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $67,500
Total population: 1,284
Nearest hunting area with fish: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

23. Mount Carroll, IL

Median home value: $95,200 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $63,992
Total population: 1,560
Nearest hunting area with fish: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

22. Swan Quarter, NC

Median home value: $97,500 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $65,806
Total population: 293
Nearest hunting area with fish: Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge

21. King Cove, AK

Median home value: $118,200 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $79,844
Total population: 1,108
Nearest hunting area with fish: Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

20. Elaine, AR

Median home value: $57,800 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $39,196
Total population: 544
Nearest hunting area with fish: Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge

19. Johnston City, IL

Median home value: $75,800 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $51,429
Total population: 3,377
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

18. Holiday Beach, TX

Median home value: $136,800 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $95,066
Total population: 291
Nearest hunting area with fish: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

17. Jet, OK

Median home value: $73,800 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $51,450
Total population: 251
Nearest hunting area with fish: Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

16. Savanna, IL

Median home value: $64,700 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $45,474
Total population: 2,783
Nearest hunting area with fish: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

15. Bush, IL

Median home value: $75,400 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $53,125
Total population: 324
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

14. McBee, SC

Median home value: $80,500 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $56,964
Total population: 1,046
Nearest hunting area with fish: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

13. De Soto, WI

Median home value: $114,600 (1.3 times income)
Median household income: $86,996
Total population: 539
Nearest hunting area with fish: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

12. Zeigler, IL

Median home value: $53,700 (1.3 times income)
Median household income: $41,518
Total population: 1,503
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

11. Cherokee, OK

Median home value: $96,500 (1.3 times income)
Median household income: $75,547
Total population: 1,556
Nearest hunting area with fish: Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

10. Ridgecrest, LA

Median home value: $48,900 (1.3 times income)
Median household income: $38,472
Total population: 855
Nearest hunting area with fish: St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge

9. Reid Hope King, TX

Median home value: $100,200 (1.3 times income)
Median household income: $79,894
Total population: 926
Nearest hunting area with fish: Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

8. Royalton, IL

Median home value: $55,400 (1.3 times income)
Median household income: $44,313
Total population: 1,067
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

7. Holton, IN

Median home value: $82,000 (1.2 times income)
Median household income: $65,714
Total population: 652
Nearest hunting area with fish: Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge

6. Orient, IL

Median home value: $46,700 (1.2 times income)
Median household income: $37,938
Total population: 311
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

5. Gillett, AR

Median home value: $79,700 (1.2 times income)
Median household income: $65,341
Total population: 491
Nearest hunting area with fish: Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge