Everyone has their favorite type of vacation destination — the beach, the mountains, a lake. But imagine if instead of enjoying it only during your vacation if you could actually call a vacation town home. Well, whether you’re looking to make a big move or buy a vacation home, you may actually be surprised at how affordable it can be. In fact, you can buy a home in a vacation community on this list for less than some people pay for a new car.
Methodology
To determine the most affordable vacation destinations you can move to, 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 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
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