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There’s just something about oceans and other water bodies that seem to invoke a sense of calm and peace. If you’re like many Americans, then you probably also get a thrill out of watching majestic sunsets or sunrises, hearing the soothing sound of the crashing waves and feeling the sand between your toes. So, why not live by the ocean or any other body of water?
The primary problem is simple: Beachfront property is often too expensive. Or is it? It turns out, the U.S. is full of cities that can make your dream of living near water come true. GOBankingRates sourced the top beach towns in the U.S. from a variety of sources and looked at the data on cost of living, home values, mortgage payments and more. These cities span the nation, with higher concentrations in places like Hawaii, Texas, Florida and Washington.
Read on to find out where you might just be able to afford the waterfront property of your dreams.
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50. Alexandria, Minnesota
Median annual income: $57,309
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,601
Average home value: $267,625
State average home value: $340,599.95
Difference: $72,974.91
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49. Muskegon, Michigan
Median annual income: $40,900
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,019
Average home value: $170,361
State average home value: $243,677.86
Difference: $73,316.45
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48. Duluth, Minnesota
Median annual income: $63,545
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,575
Average home value: $263,379
State average home value: $340,599.95
Difference: $77,220.57
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47. Providence, Rhode Island
Median annual income: $61,365
Monthly mortgage payment: $2,336
Average home value: $390,530
State average home value: $468,794.52
Difference: $78,264.54
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46. Algoma, Wisconsin
Median annual income: $72,232
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,349
Average home value: $225,496
State average home value: $306,459.71
Difference: $80,963.47
Pictured: Milwaukee
Courtesy of Four Seasons / Christian Horan
45. Kapolei, Hawaii
Median annual income: $121,768
Monthly mortgage payment: $5,473
Average home value: $915,018
State average home value: $996,981.53
Difference: $81,963.44
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44. Corpus Christi, Texas
Median annual income: $64,449
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,345
Average home value: $224,777
State average home value: $308,385.14
Difference: $83,607.98
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43. Laconia, New Hampshire
Median annual income: $67,856
Monthly mortgage payment: $2,449
Average home value: $409,391
State average home value: $496,131.30
Difference: $86,740.07
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42. Texas City, Texas
Median annual income: $61,359
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,300
Average home value: $217,371
State average home value: $308,385.14
Difference: $91,014.01
Pictured: Port Arthur
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41. Eerie, Pennsylvania
Median annual income: $43,135
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,050
Average home value: $175,615
State average home value: $267,924.52
Difference: $92,309.28
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40. Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Median annual income: $61,820
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,936
Average home value: $323,668
State average home value: $417,228.14
Difference: $93,560.32
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39. Norfolk, Virginia
Median annual income: $60,998
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,785
Average home value: $298,335
State average home value: $395,912.17
Difference: $97,577.51
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38. Lihue, Hawaii
Median annual income: $73,641
Monthly mortgage payment: $5,379
Average home value: $899,211
State average home value: $996,981.53
Difference: $97,770.39
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37. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Median annual income: $49,733
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,227
Average home value: $205,132
State average home value: $306,459.71
Difference: $101,328.17
SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto
36. Jacksonville, Florida
Median annual income: $64,138
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,859
Average home value: $310,790
State average home value: $417,228.14
Difference: $106,438.27
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35. Toledo, Ohio
Median annual income: $45,405
Monthly mortgage payment: $712
Average home value: $119,053
State average home value: $229,380.80
Difference: $110,327.96
Crystal Bolin Photography / Getty Images/iStockphoto
34. Carrabelle, Florida
Median annual income: $41,563
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,824
Average home value: $304,960
State average home value: $417,228.14
Difference: $112,268.04
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33. Middle River, Maryland
Median annual income: $72,970
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,881
Average home value: $314,499
State average home value: $430,752.21
Difference: $116,252.75
Pictured: Ocean City
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32. Fort Pierce, Florida
Median annual income: $45,121
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,797
Average home value: $300,487
State average home value: $417,228.14
Difference: $116,741.07
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31. Palacios, Texas
Median annual income: $59,469
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,131
Average home value: $189,139
State average home value: $308,385.14
Difference: $119,246.18
Pictured: South Padre Island
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30. Brownsville, Texas
Median annual income: $46,735
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,129
Average home value: $188,705
State average home value: $308,385.14
Difference: $119,680.47
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29. Daytona Beach, Florida
Median annual income: $47,608
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,777
Average home value: $297,073
State average home value: $417,228.14
Difference: $120,154.87
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28. Cleveland, Ohio
Median annual income: $37,271
Monthly mortgage payment: $643
Average home value: $107,571
State average home value: $229,380.80
Difference: $121,809.89
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27. Hampton, Virginia
Median annual income: $64,430
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,611
Average home value: $269,250
State average home value: $395,912.17
Difference: $126,662.65
Pictured: Virginia Beach
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26. Port Lavaca, Texas
Median annual income: $58,871
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,068
Average home value: $178,616
State average home value: $308,385.14
Difference: $129,769.34
Pictured: Galveston
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25. Panama City, Florida
Median annual income: $57,221
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,702
Average home value: $284,572
State average home value: $417,228.14
Difference: $132,655.75
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24. Bremerton, Virginia
Median annual income: $68,556
Monthly mortgage payment: $2,823
Average home value: $471,908
State average home value: $611,214.65
Difference: $139,307.00
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23. New London, Connecticut
Median annual income: $56,237
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,713
Average home value: $286,335
State average home value: $426,050.76
Difference: $139,716.20
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22. Essex, Maryland
Median annual income: $67,580
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,671
Average home value: $279,296
State average home value: $430,752.21
Difference: $151,456.35
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21. Pensacola, Florida
Median annual income: $67,722
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,565
Average home value: $261,647
State average home value: $417,228.14
Difference: $155,581.44
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20. Freeport, Texas
Median annual income: $50,704
Monthly mortgage payment: $854
Average home value: $142,728
State average home value: $308,385.14
Difference: $165,656.81
Pictured: South Padre Island
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19. Port Angeles, Washington
Median annual income: $60,212
Monthly mortgage payment: $2,659
Average home value: $444,541
State average home value: $611,214.65
Difference: $166,674.07
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18. Detroit, Michigan
Median annual income: $37,761
Monthly mortgage payment: $432
Average home value: $72,292
State average home value: $243,677.86
Difference: $171,385.69
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17. Salisbury, Maryland
Median annual income: $53,309
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,527
Average home value: $255,343
State average home value: $430,752.21
Difference: $175,409.63
Pictured: Assateague Island
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16. Coos Bay, Oregon
Median annual income: $60,212
Monthly mortgage payment: $2,659
Average home value: $444,541
State average home value: $611,214.65
Difference: $166,674.07
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15. Port Arthur, Texas
Median annual income: $45,357
Monthly mortgage payment: $633
Average home value: $105,798
State average home value: $308,385.14
Difference: $202,587.63
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14. Buffalo, New York
Median annual income: $46,184
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,340
Average home value: $224,057
State average home value: $443,364.58
Difference: $219,307.88
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13. Rochester, New York
Median annual income: $60,212
Monthly mortgage payment: $2,659
Average home value: $444,541
State average home value: $611,214.65
Difference: $166,674.07
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12. Ocean Shores, Washington
Median annual income: $54,435
Monthly mortgage payment: $2,290
Average home value: $382,766
State average home value: $611,214.65
Difference: $611,214.65
Dmitri Kotchetov / Shutterstock.com
11. Long Beach, Washington
Median annual income: $47,188
Monthly mortgage payment: $2,275
Average home value: $380,393
State average home value: $611,214.65
Difference: $230,821.85
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10. Lanai City, Hawaii
Median annual income: $80,464
Monthly mortgage payment: $4,475
Average home value: $748,093
State average home value: $996,981.53
Difference: $248,888.91
Pictured: Kihei
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9. Atlantic City, New Jersey
Median annual income: $35,188
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,416
Average home value: $236,698
State average home value: $539,808.00
Difference: $303,109.59
Jon Marc Lyttle / Shutterstock.com
8. Jamestown, New York
Median annual income: $39,507
Monthly mortgage payment: $680
Average home value: $113,640
State average home value: $443,364.58
Difference: $329,724.98
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7. Maunaloa, Hawaii
Median annual income: $80,464
Monthly mortgage payment: $4,475
Average home value: $748,093
State average home value: $996,981.53
Difference: $248,888.91
Pictured: Holualoa
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6. Aberdeen, Washington
Median annual income: $50,008
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,624
Average home value: $271,456
State average home value: $611,214.65
Difference: $339,758.39
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5. Waianae, Hawaii
Median annual income: $77,435
Monthly mortgage payment: $3,814
Average home value: $637,558
State average home value: $996,981.53
Difference: $359,423.57
Pictured: Kauai
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4. Eureka, California
Median annual income: $51,971
Monthly mortgage payment: $2,485
Average home value: $415,360
State average home value: $805,913.17
Difference: $390,553.57
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3. Hilo, Hawaii
Median annual income: $75,589
Monthly mortgage payment: $3,091
Average home value: $516,681
State average home value: $996,981.53
Difference: $480,300.53
SMJoness / Getty Images/iStockphoto
2. Kaunakakai, Hawaii
Median annual income: $67,083
Monthly mortgage payment: $2,736
Average home value: $457,474
State average home value: $996,981.53
Difference: $539,507.34
Pictured: Kihei
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1. Clearlake, California
Median annual income: $41,047
Monthly mortgage payment: $1,304
Average home value: $217,921
State average home value: $805,913.17
Difference between typical and state home value: $587,992.34
John Csiszar and Daria Uhlig contributed to the reporting for this article.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed coastal cities across the United States to find the cities on the waterfront that are a total steal. First GOBankingRates found waterfront cities as sourced from USAtoday’s Most Affordable Waterfront Cities, WSAZ’s 100 Best Beach Towns, TravelandLeisure’s Best Beach Towns and Best Secluded Beaches, USNewsandWorldReport’s Best Places to Live near the Beach, LoveExploring’s Destinations, TripSavvy’s Best Beach Towns in the US, and Realtor’s Most Affordable Beach Towns for Homebuyers. For each city a number of factors were found including; total population, total households, household median income all sourced from the US Census American Community Survey, the cost-of-living indexes as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces, the average single-family home value from April 2024 as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index, the livabilty index as sourced from AreaVibes and the average single-family home value by state as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. For each home value, the average mortgage cost was calculated by assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, the average mortgage cost can be calculated. The average expenditure costs are calculated by using the cost-of-living indexes and using the national average expenditure costs for all residents as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 Consumer Expenditure Survey. The average expenditure cost and mortgage cost can be used to find the total monthly cost of living for each city. The difference in home value from statewide averages can be calculated to find the waterfront cities that are undervalued and are considered a steal. The cities were sorted to show the waterfront places with the most undervalued homes. All data was collected on and is up to date as of June 10, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 50 Waterfront Cities Where Homes Are a Total Steal