You Can Buy a House in This Beautiful Lake Town for $127,000

The most affordable lake towns all offer residents and visitors plenty to do. I know lake towns all too well as I live in a lake town. My town borders two lakes. The beaches, nature trails, and wildlife never stop impressing me. No matter which season it is, activities include swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, walking, ice skating, ice fishing, and bird watching. Opportunities on or near the lake abound. There are also plenty of scenes to capture with a camera if photography is a hobby.

Head away from the beaches and lakeshore to find shops, restaurants, museums, theaters, and historic sites to explore. Lake-town living is wonderful, but some lake towns are more affordable than others. In my area, it's easy to spend millions to live on the shores and have views of Lake Champlain. Vermont's also expensive, so you won't find this state on my list of lake towns. That doesn't mean everywhere is unaffordable. Where can people go to find low-cost homes and also gain all of the benefits that come from living near a lake?

My list of the most affordable lake towns spans the U.S. Explore lake towns in southern states like Texas or head north to Wisconsin. Lake towns in Maine put New England on this list or head west to South Dakota. Whether you're looking for small and quaint or big and bustling, there are a variety of excellent options. Some of the best lakes in the U.S. are part of national parks. (After this article, discover The 11 Best National Parks to Visit in Good Weather.)

Methodology:

To determine the most affordable beach towns, 24/7 Tempo 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 2,500 residents near lakes of at least one square mile in area were considered. Boundary definitions for places came from the U.S. Census Bureau, while boundary definitions for lakes came from Esri.

50. International Falls, Minnesota

Median home value: $114,000 (2.1 times income)
Median household income: $54,680
Total population: 5,795
Largest lake: Rainy Lake

49. Sandy Oaks, Texas

Median home value: $107,900 (2.1 times income)
Median household income: $51,949
Total population: 5,097
Largest lake: Braunig Lake

48. Merrill, Wisconsin

Median home value: $98,900 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $48,378
Total population: 9,266
Largest lake: Alexander Lake

47. Mobridge, South Dakota

Median home value: $111,800 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $54,868
Total population: 3,130
Largest lake: Lake Oahe

46. Eveleth, Minnesota

Median home value: $89,200 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $43,843
Total population: 3,500
Largest lake: Ely Lake

45. West Columbia, Texas

Median home value: $141,900 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $70,086
Total population: 3,641
Largest lake: Eagle Nest Lake

44. Rothschild, Wisconsin

Median home value: $171,200 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $84,963
Total population: 5,537
Largest lake: Eau Claire Flowage

43. South Rosemary, North Carolina

Median home value: $84,000 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $41,875
Total population: 2,877
Largest lake: Roanoke Rapids Lake

42. Howland Center, Ohio

Median home value: $162,300 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $81,044
Total population: 6,266
Largest lake: Mosquito Creek Lake

41. Winfield, Kansas

Median home value: $111,400 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $55,850
Total population: 11,804
Largest lake: Timber Creek Lake

40. Lanett, Alabama

Median home value: $95,800 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $48,125
Total population: 6,880
Largest lake: West Point Lake

39. Willis, Texas

Median home value: $111,100 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $55,876
Total population: 6,561
Largest lake: Lake Paula

38. Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Median home value: $91,000 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $45,833
Total population: 3,009
Largest lake: Bluestem Lake

37. El Dorado, Kansas

Median home value: $104,200 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $52,921
Total population: 12,882
Largest lake: El Dorado Lake

36. Bethel Acres, Oklahoma

Median home value: $162,400 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $82,670
Total population: 3,066
Largest lake: Shawnee Reservoir

35. Mogadore, Ohio

Median home value: $156,600 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $80,099
Total population: 3,838
Largest lake: Mogadore Reservoir

34. Oconto, Wisconsin

Median home value: $123,000 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $63,214
Total population: 4,586
Largest lake: Green Bay

33. Geneva, New York

Median home value: $123,100 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $63,602
Total population: 12,670
Largest lake: Seneca Lake

32. West Ishpeming, Michigan

Median home value: $152,000 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $78,750
Total population: 2,713
Largest lake: Deer Lake

31. Nashville, Georgia

Median home value: $87,600 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $45,500
Total population: 4,907
Largest lake: Averys Millpond

30. Millinocket, Maine

Median home value: $86,900 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $45,345
Total population: 4,136
Largest lake: South Twin Lake

29. Iowa Park, Texas

Median home value: $117,100 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $61,667
Total population: 6,529
Largest lake: North Fork Buffalo Creek Reservoir

28. Norton, Kansas

Median home value: $100,200 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $52,822
Total population: 2,729
Largest lake: Keith Sebelius Lake

27. Carlyss, Louisiana

Median home value: $144,800 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $76,484
Total population: 5,018
Largest lake: Moss Lake

26. Mount Carmel, Illinois

Median home value: $84,500 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $44,723
Total population: 6,978
Largest lake: Broad Pond

25. Newton Falls, Ohio

Median home value: $94,600 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $50,738
Total population: 4,562
Largest lake: Lake Milton

24. Lakewood, New York

Median home value: $127,500 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $68,631
Total population: 2,986
Largest lake: Chautauqua Lake

23. Ladysmith, Wisconsin

Median home value: $92,100 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $49,973
Total population: 3,192
Largest lake: Dairyland Reservoir

22. Hillsboro, Kansas

Median home value: $100,600 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $55,000
Total population: 2,744
Largest lake: Marion Reservoir

21. Centralia, Illinois

Median home value: $84,700 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $46,468
Total population: 12,096
Largest lake: Centralia Reservoir

20. Tupper Lake, New York

Median home value: $96,000 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $52,779
Total population: 2,804
Largest lake: Raquette Pond

19. La Villa, Texas

Median home value: $107,000 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $59,167
Total population: 2,872
Largest lake: Valley Acres Reservoir

18. Brady, Texas

Median home value: $90,400 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $50,197
Total population: 5,129
Largest lake: Brady Reservoir

17. Bridge City, Texas

Median home value: $172,200 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $95,688
Total population: 9,461
Largest lake: Sabine Lake

16. Kingsford, Michigan

Median home value: $105,800 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $59,106
Total population: 5,127
Largest lake: Antoine Lake

15. Atkins, Arkansas

Median home value: $92,400 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $51,643
Total population: 2,865
Largest lake: Lake Atkins

14. Long Lake, Illinois

Median home value: $171,300 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $95,950
Total population: 2,939
Largest lake: Fox Lake

13. Mount Zion, Illinois

Median home value: $177,600 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $99,798
Total population: 6,255
Largest lake: Lake Decatur

12. Fulton, New York

Median home value: $91,000 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $51,243
Total population: 11,381
Largest lake: Neatahwanta Lake

11. Independence, Kansas

Median home value: $85,100 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $48,514
Total population: 8,556
Largest lake: Elk City Lake

10. De Queen, Arkansas

Median home value: $93,300 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $55,207
Total population: 6,132
Largest lake: De Queen Lake

9. Benton, Illinois

Median home value: $81,200 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $48,784
Total population: 6,999
Largest lake: Rend Lake

8. Big Lake, Texas

Median home value: $116,700 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $70,160
Total population: 2,977
Largest lake: Big Lake

7. McDonald, Ohio

Median home value: $124,500 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $75,315
Total population: 3,160
Largest lake: Meander Creek Reservoir

6. Creve Coeur, Illinois

Median home value: $83,800 (1.6 times income)
Median household income: $50,958
Total population: 4,695
Largest lake: Peoria Lake

5. Granite City, Illinois

Median home value: $95,600 (1.6 times income)
Median household income: $58,681
Total population: 27,026
Largest lake: Horseshoe Lake

4. North Hartsville, South Carolina

Median home value: $109,800 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $71,000
Total population: 3,261
Largest lake: Lake Robinson

3. Sullivan, Illinois

Median home value: $98,200 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $63,917
Total population: 4,408
Largest lake: Lake Shelbyville

2. Mattydale, New York

Median home value: $106,400 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $69,824
Total population: 5,825
Largest lake: Onondaga Lake

1. Lake Mack-Forest Hills, Florida

Median home value: $127,700 (1.2 times income)
Median household income: $103,363
Total population: 2,506
Largest lake: Beresford Lake