Beauty & Budget: Houses in This Stunning Mountain Town Are Less Than $100K

The world we live in has a wide variety of gorgeous landscapes and scenery that can be uniquely beautiful in their own ways. People are quite similar in the regard that everyone has preferences for where they'd like to live. Some people love the beach, enjoying the sun, sand, and salt air. Some like the city, having the convenience of walkability, the hustle and bustle of the urban jungle, along with the bright lights of the big city. Then there are those who prefer mountain living, living high amongst the trees with stellar views and breathing in the fresh air.

If you've always dreamt of living in a mountain town, surrounded by nature, perhaps living off the grid, but didn't think it was affordable, now is your chance to make your dreams come true. Many homes in some of the most stunning mountain towns are less than $100k. Could you imagine waking up in the morning and enjoying a nice cup of coffee as you gaze out over the mountainous surroundings? Or perhaps eating a nice meal as you look off into the forest surrounding a cozy little cottage in the woods?

To find these towns, we 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 5% of housing units are vacant for seasonal or recreational use that intersect a mountain were considered. Mountain spatial boundaries are from the GMBA Mountain Inventory v2 of EarthEnv.

• Median home value: $224,600 (2.6 times income)
• Median household income: $85,872
• Total population: 28,118

• Median home value: $309,900 (2.6 times income)
• Median household income: $118,934
• Total population: 6,542

• Median home value: $119,500 (2.6 times income)
• Median household income: $45,915
• Total population: 19,041

• Median home value: $122,000 (2.6 times income)
• Median household income: $47,292
• Total population: 2,707

• Median home value: $125,700 (2.6 times income)
• Median household income: $48,776
• Total population: 76,119

• Median home value: $310,200 (2.6 times income)
• Median household income: $120,539
• Total population: 1,584

• Median home value: $168,800 (2.6 times income)
• Median household income: $65,610
• Total population: 4,152

• Median home value: $267,700 (2.5 times income)
• Median household income: $105,250
• Total population: 2,059

• Median home value: $118,600 (2.5 times income)
• Median household income: $46,840
• Total population: 1,511

• Median home value: $137,400 (2.5 times income)
• Median household income: $55,213
• Total population: 8,982

• Median home value: $115,400 (2.5 times income)
• Median household income: $46,724
• Total population: 4,879

• Median home value: $170,600 (2.4 times income)
• Median household income: $69,653
• Total population: 2,389

• Median home value: $93,600 (2.4 times income)
• Median household income: $38,382
• Total population: 2,130

• Median home value: $87,000 (2.4 times income)
• Median household income: $35,798
• Total population: 9,383

• Median home value: $96,400 (2.4 times income)
• Median household income: $40,294
• Total population: 2,166

• Median home value: $86,500 (2.4 times income)
• Median household income: $36,166
• Total population: 8,522

• Median home value: $85,400 (2.4 times income)
• Median household income: $35,735
• Total population: 2,167

• Median home value: $132,800 (2.4 times income)
• Median household income: $55,845
• Total population: 2,043

• Median home value: $61,300 (2.3 times income)
• Median household income: $26,500
• Total population: 1,862

• Median home value: $168,200 (2.3 times income)
• Median household income: $73,778
• Total population: 4,351

• Median home value: $146,100 (2.3 times income)
• Median household income: $64,100
• Total population: 1,686

• Median home value: $172,700 (2.2 times income)
• Median household income: $77,125
• Total population: 4,213

• Median home value: $93,200 (2.2 times income)
• Median household income: $41,638
• Total population: 9,485

• Median home value: $132,200 (2.2 times income)
• Median household income: $60,120
• Total population: 5,372

• Median home value: $68,000 (2.2 times income)
• Median household income: $30,962
• Total population: 2,567

• Median home value: $110,700 (2.2 times income)
• Median household income: $50,435
• Total population: 43,821

• Median home value: $129,200 (2.2 times income)
• Median household income: $59,167
• Total population: 2,453

• Median home value: $156,300 (2.2 times income)
• Median household income: $71,615
• Total population: 8,506

• Median home value: $137,500 (2.2 times income)
• Median household income: $63,750
• Total population: 1,081

• Median home value: $163,900 (2.1 times income)
• Median household income: $78,750
• Total population: 1,437

• Median home value: $82,000 (2.1 times income)
• Median household income: $39,643
• Total population: 1,139

• Median home value: $94,400 (2.1 times income)
• Median household income: $45,854
• Total population: 9,619

• Median home value: $84,900 (2.1 times income)
• Median household income: $41,339
• Total population: 2,085

• Median home value: $119,100 (2.0 times income)
• Median household income: $59,773
• Total population: 1,102

• Median home value: $88,600 (1.9 times income)
• Median household income: $45,729
• Total population: 1,524

• Median home value: $130,900 (1.9 times income)
• Median household income: $67,778
• Total population: 3,373

• Median home value: $119,100 (1.9 times income)
• Median household income: $62,667
• Total population: 1,171

• Median home value: $99,500 (1.9 times income)
• Median household income: $52,548
• Total population: 2,204

• Median home value: $54,400 (1.9 times income)
• Median household income: $28,750
• Total population: 1,081

• Median home value: $59,900 (1.8 times income)
• Median household income: $32,716
• Total population: 2,390

• Median home value: $80,100 (1.8 times income)
• Median household income: $45,737
• Total population: 5,722

• Median home value: $83,500 (1.6 times income)
• Median household income: $50,938
• Total population: 1,993

• Median home value: $65,700 (1.6 times income)
• Median household income: $41,250
• Total population: 1,017

• Median home value: $80,700 (1.5 times income)
• Median household income: $52,554
• Total population: 1,441

• Median home value: $66,300 (1.5 times income)
• Median household income: $43,318
• Total population: 1,028

• Median home value: $118,200 (1.5 times income)
• Median household income: $79,844
• Total population: 1,108

• Median home value: $78,000 (1.4 times income)
• Median household income: $54,013
• Total population: 1,716

• Median home value: $53,600 (1.4 times income)
• Median household income: $38,668
• Total population: 3,715

• Median home value: $63,600 (1.3 times income)
• Median household income: $49,423
• Total population: 1,095

• Median home value: $40,000 (1.2 times income)
• Median household income: $33,466
• Total population: 18,429