You Won’t Believe This Affordable Mountain Paradise With Homes for Less Than $55,000

Imagine waking up to stunning views, breaking in fresh air, and listening to the soothing sounds of nature. Living in the mountains is a dream come true for many of us. It offers peace and quiet, as well as opportunities for outdoor adventures like fishing, skiing, and hiking.

Fortunately, living in the mountains doesn't have to break the bank. We have rounded up the nation's most affordable mountain towns where you can buy a home, many times for less than $100,000.

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.

So line up the movers and start packing. We bet you can find your next home in one of these affordable mountain towns.

• 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