Live in a Hiker’s Dream Town for Less Than $63,000

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