Sullivan’s Island Tops List of America’s Most Expensive Island Communities

Published: July 14, 2024 by Tracy Farnsworth

Merriam-Webster defines a community as “the people with common interests living in a particular area.” Islands are one of the best settings for a community as the close-knit neighborhoods and towns form close bonds. The lure of island living is strong, and I took a closer look at the nicest island communities in the U.S.

One of my favorite TV shows is a British-French gem titled “Death in Paradise.” I mention it as it’s set on the fictional island of Saint-Marie in the Caribbean with an island community I want to be part of. The island’s residents are so close they could be considered more of a family than neighbors. It’s that type of community I long for and wish I lived in. The food, the music, and the people bring Saint-Marie to life. I’d love to move there.

For me, the best island community is one where residents are friendly, don’t intrude, and are always there to lend a helping hand when you need it. Seafood is abundant, fresh produce grows well in the soil, and everything you could ask for for services and shops are close by. Where in the U.S. could a person find this kind of island community? Where can you go to live where townspeople are close and life is idyllic?

Join me as I look at the nicest island towns, the communities that make them so enjoyable, and how much a home costs. (Any island town comes with hazards, and hurricanes are one of the biggest possibilities. Learn more about staying safe by reading “10 Hurricane Survival Tips Everyone Needs to Know.”)

To determine the nicest island communities to live, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year data on median home value from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey. Cities, towns, boroughs, villages, and Census-designated places located on islands were ranked based on median home value for all owner-occupied housing units. 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. Clinton, Washington

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Median home value: $609,100
Median household income: $69,570
Total population: 1,165
Area: Whidbey Island

49. Newport, Rhode Island

Source: Byelikova_Oksana / iStock via Getty Images

Median home value: $622,800
Median household income: $81,330
Total population: 25,087
Area: Aquidneck Island

48. Layton, Florida

View around Long Key State Park - Layton, Florida in August 2023 Trail flooded in the mangroves before Hurricane Ian

Source: Made For More Productions / Shutterstock.com

Median home value: $625,000
Median household income: $63,542
Total population: 144
Area: Long Key

47. Long Beach, New York

Source: Alexandre Beaslay / Shutterstock.com

Median home value: $631,300
Median household income: $125,974
Total population: 34,734
Area: Long Beach

46. Marathon, Florida

Duck+Key+Florida | Duck Key, Marathon, Florida Keys, Florida, USA

Source: attie / Flickr

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Source: attie / Flickr

Median home value: $644,600
Median household income: $70,313
Total population: 9,789
Area: Vaca Key & Boot Key

45. Folly Beach, South Carolina

Source: MargaretW / iStock via Getty Images

Median home value: $652,800
Median household income: $88,424
Total population: 1,020
Area: Folly Island

44. Langley, Washington

Sunrise across the bay from Langley Washington

Source: Spencer McDonald / Shutterstock.com

Median home value: $659,200
Median household income: $72,379
Total population: 1,076
Area: Whidbey Island

43. Holmes Beach, Florida

Source: tbisaacs / Flickr

Holmes beach (CC BY 2.0) by Travis Isaacs

Median home value: $662,900
Median household income: $94,545
Total population: 3,076
Area: Longboat Key & Anna Maria

42. Tierra Verde, Florida

The beautiful sunrise at the beach in Tierra Verde, Florida, USA

Source: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com

Median home value: $666,100
Median household income: $143,913
Total population: 4,072
Area: Mullet Key

41. Cudjoe Key, Florida

Source: Susan Vineyard / Getty Images

Median home value: $667,800
Median household income: $95,086
Total population: 2,238
Area: Cudjoe Key

40. Vashon, Washington

Source: juliangraham / Flickr

Vashon Island (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Julian Graham

Median home value: $675,000
Median household income: $103,222
Total population: 10,939
Area: Vashon Island

39. Lido Beach, New York

Sunrise at Nickerson Beach Park, Lido, NY

Source: Stubblefield Photography / Shutterstock.com

Median home value: $726,100
Median household income: $172,857
Total population: 2,615
Area: Long Beach

38. New York, New York

New York City | File:20170721 Gotham Shield NYC Aerials-225 medium (cropped).jpg

Source: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

New York, N.Y., Jul. 21, 2017--The New Jersey Army National Guard (NJANG) Aviation Program has generously offered their support to conduct an aerial view/survey of the Gotham Shield Exercise covering the New York / New Jersey area. FEMA Region II and NYCEM personnel were among those who took part in the flights. The overall objective is to gain increased training knowledge and experience from an ‘outside-in’ approach and to improve our national capacity to build, sustain, and deliver core capabilities. FEMA/K.C.Wilsey

Source: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons