Homes in This Fishing Town Are as Affordable as a New Car

Purchasing a home can be expensive, and if you choose to live near a major city, the prices can be especially high and can seem quite out of reach for many, particularly for first-time homebuyers. But if you still have your sights set on owning a home, there are still plenty of options available to you. Even better – for those who enjoy fishing – some of the most affordable locations 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

4. Pine Ridge, SC

• Median home value: $56,900 (1.1 times income)
• Median household income: $49,545
• Total population: 640
• Nearest hunting area with fish: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

3. Tivoli, TX

• Median home value: $48,900 (0.8 times income)
• Median household income: $63,636
• Total population: 628
• Nearest hunting area with fish: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

2. Mattawa, WA

• Median home value: $32,400 (0.7 times income)
• Median household income: $45,500
• Total population: 3,506
• Nearest hunting area with fish: Hanford Reach National Monument

1. Basin City, WA

• Median home value: $40,800 (0.4 times income)
• Median household income: $104,025
• Total population: 1,570
• Nearest hunting area with fish: Hanford Reach National Monument

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