Many of us often dream of escaping the rat race, getting away from the hustle and bustle of city life, and settling down in an area that is a bit more laidback, where life doesn’t pass you by. For some, this ideal escape locale is often on an island, but home prices aren’t always the most affordable. Until now. There are affordable island homes in every region of the U.S. that can make your dreams a reality.
To determine the most affordable island homes you can buy at a reasonable price, 24/7 Tempo reviewed five years of median household value and income data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey. Island cities, towns, and census-designated places were ranked based on the ratio of median home value to median household income.
Island status was determined using Census TIGER/Line place boundary definitions for 2022 and shapefile data from the Global Island Explorer database developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in partnership with Esri.
50. Herron Island, WA
- Median home value: $310,400 (5.0 times income)
- Median household income: $62,054
- Total population: 122
49. Destin, FL
- Median home value: $429,400 (4.9 times income)
- Median household income: $86,777
- Total population: 13,923
48. Puget Island, WA
- Median home value: $319,300 (4.9 times income)
- Median household income: $64,593
- Total population: 1,057
47. Crescent Beach, FL
- Median home value: $512,700 (4.9 times income)
- Median household income: $104,432
- Total population: 936
46. Sandwich, MA
- Median home value: $486,900 (4.9 times income)
- Median household income: $99,333
- Total population: 2,948
45. Newport East, RI
- Median home value: $444,300 (4.9 times income)
- Median household income: $90,659
- Total population: 11,644
44. Coinjock, NC
- Median home value: $200,600 (4.9 times income)
- Median household income: $40,938
- Total population: 301
43. Upper Grand Lagoon, FL
- Median home value: $316,400 (4.9 times income)
- Median household income: $64,935
- Total population: 17,062
42. Wabasso Beach, FL
- Median home value: $586,000 (4.9 times income)
- Median household income: $120,673
- Total population: 2,101
41. Anderson Island, WA
- Median home value: $449,000 (4.8 times income)
- Median household income: $92,933
- Total population: 1,621
40. Manteo, NC
- Median home value: $375,900 (4.8 times income)
- Median household income: $78,074
- Total population: 1,808
39. Panama City Beach, FL
- Median home value: $363,900 (4.8 times income)
- Median household income: $76,091
- Total population: 18,281
38. East Sandwich, MA
- Median home value: $590,000 (4.8 times income)
- Median household income: $123,571
- Total population: 3,787
37. Matlacha, FL
- Median home value: $370,100 (4.8 times income)
- Median household income: $77,841
- Total population: 837
36. Yarmouth Port, MA
- Median home value: $486,200 (4.8 times income)
- Median household income: $102,321
- Total population: 5,971
35. Littlejohn Island, ME
- Median home value: $446,600 (4.7 times income)
- Median household income: $94,943
- Total population: 58
34. Big Coppitt Key, FL
- Median home value: $481,200 (4.7 times income)
- Median household income: $102,943
- Total population: 3,188
33. Gwynn, VA
- Median home value: $413,600 (4.6 times income)
- Median household income: $89,009
- Total population: 639
32. Brigantine, NJ
- Median home value: $423,000 (4.6 times income)
- Median household income: $91,307
- Total population: 7,784
31. Tierra Verde, FL
- Median home value: $666,100 (4.6 times income)
- Median household income: $143,913
- Total population: 4,072
30. Pine Island Center, FL
- Median home value: $252,800 (4.5 times income)
- Median household income: $55,565
- Total population: 1,626
29. Galveston, TX
- Median home value: $258,300 (4.5 times income)
- Median household income: $57,453
- Total population: 53,265
28. St. Simons, GA
- Median home value: $445,500 (4.5 times income)
- Median household income: $99,432
- Total population: 15,983
27. Laguna Beach, FL
- Median home value: $329,500 (4.4 times income)
- Median household income: $74,911
- Total population: 4,194
26. Lower Grand Lagoon, FL
- Median home value: $314,200 (4.4 times income)
- Median household income: $72,083
- Total population: 4,733
25. Pineland, FL
- Median home value: $401,800 (4.3 times income)
- Median household income: $93,594
- Total population: 379
24. Port Royal, SC
- Median home value: $292,400 (4.2 times income)
- Median household income: $68,909
- Total population: 14,573
23. South Beach, FL
- Median home value: $813,500 (4.2 times income)
- Median household income: $193,281
- Total population: 3,120
22. Lido Beach, NY
- Median home value: $726,100 (4.2 times income)
- Median household income: $172,857
- Total population: 2,615
21. St. James City, FL
- Median home value: $251,600 (4.0 times income)
- Median household income: $62,415
- Total population: 3,494
20. Bokeelia, FL
- Median home value: $263,400 (3.9 times income)
- Median household income: $66,691
- Total population: 2,230
19. Shell Point, SC
- Median home value: $236,900 (3.9 times income)
- Median household income: $60,676
- Total population: 2,026
18. Harkers Island, NC
- Median home value: $264,300 (3.9 times income)
- Median household income: $67,888
- Total population: 1,104
17. Laurel Bay, SC
- Median home value: $215,600 (3.9 times income)
- Median household income: $55,658
- Total population: 5,513
16. Mashpee Neck, MA
- Median home value: $518,600 (3.8 times income)
- Median household income: $135,536
- Total population: 1,270
15. Forestdale, MA
- Median home value: $449,100 (3.8 times income)
- Median household income: $118,382
- Total population: 3,912
14. Buxton, NC
- Median home value: $328,600 (3.8 times income)
- Median household income: $87,344
- Total population: 1,477
13. Akutan, AK
- Median home value: $106,300 (3.7 times income)
- Median household income: $28,750
- Total population: 911
12. Grandy, NC
- Median home value: $260,500 (3.7 times income)
- Median household income: $70,610
- Total population: 2,438
11. Cousins Island, ME
- Median home value: $603,400 (3.6 times income)
- Median household income: $168,571
- Total population: 504
10. Wanchese, NC
- Median home value: $249,700 (3.5 times income)
- Median household income: $71,484
- Total population: 2,005
9. Jamaica Beach, TX
- Median home value: $300,500 (3.5 times income)
- Median household income: $86,923
- Total population: 1,103
8. Waves, NC
- Median home value: $547,800 (3.4 times income)
- Median household income: $158,860
- Total population: 139
7. Burton, SC
- Median home value: $189,200 (3.2 times income)
- Median household income: $58,390
- Total population: 7,603
6. Barataria, LA
- Median home value: $167,000 (3.0 times income)
- Median household income: $55,313
- Total population: 772
5. Harbor Island, SC
- Median home value: $295,000 (3.0 times income)
- Median household income: $97,825
- Total population: 277
4. Shishmaref, AK
- Median home value: $118,300 (2.1 times income)
- Median household income: $56,875
- Total population: 568
3. Daufuskie Island, SC
- Median home value: $290,400 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $146,349
- Total population: 569
2. Smith Island, MD
Shutterstock ID: 1025633974, Photographer: Linda Harms
- Median home value: $109,300 (1.3 times income)
- Median household income: $82,878
- Total population: 357
1. Kaktovik, AK
- Median home value: $93,000 (1.1 times income)
- Median household income: $86,458
- Total population: 201