Your Dream Home Awaits in These Budget-Friendly Towns

Fishing is a favorite pastime for many American families, offering the exhiliration of casting a line and waiting the perfect moment to reel in a catch — especially when shared with family or friends. However, for those living in urban areas or far from bodies of water, it can be challenging to enjoy this fun activity. If you have the means to buy a second home or are considering relocating to a place with plenty of fishing opportunities, you’ll be excited to explore this list of affordable fishing towns.

According to a comprehensive study from The Outdoor Foundation and Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, in 2022, 18 percent of Americans aged 6 and above went fishing at least once, up from 17 percent in 2021. This amounts to over 54.5 million people who fished that year—an increase of 2.1 million compared to the previous year. The participation rate and the total number of individuals who fished were just slightly below the all-time highs reached in 2020.

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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