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
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Median annual income: $57,309
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,601
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Average home value: $267,625
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State average home value: $340,599.95
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Difference: $72,974.91
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49. Muskegon, Michigan
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Median annual income: $40,900
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,019
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Average home value: $170,361
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State average home value: $243,677.86
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Difference: $73,316.45
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48. Duluth, Minnesota
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Median annual income: $63,545
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,575
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Average home value: $263,379
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State average home value: $340,599.95
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Difference: $77,220.57
47. Providence, Rhode Island
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Median annual income: $61,365
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Monthly mortgage payment: $2,336
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Average home value: $390,530
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State average home value: $468,794.52
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Difference: $78,264.54
46. Algoma, Wisconsin
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Median annual income: $72,232
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,349
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Average home value: $225,496
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State average home value: $306,459.71
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Difference: $80,963.47
Pictured: Milwaukee
45. Kapolei, Hawaii
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Median annual income: $121,768
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Monthly mortgage payment: $5,473
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Average home value: $915,018
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State average home value: $996,981.53
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Difference: $81,963.44
44. Corpus Christi, Texas
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Median annual income: $64,449
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,345
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Average home value: $224,777
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State average home value: $308,385.14
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Difference: $83,607.98
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43. Laconia, New Hampshire
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Median annual income: $67,856
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Monthly mortgage payment: $2,449
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Average home value: $409,391
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State average home value: $496,131.30
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Difference: $86,740.07
42. Texas City, Texas
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Median annual income: $61,359
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,300
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Average home value: $217,371
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State average home value: $308,385.14
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Difference: $91,014.01
Pictured: Port Arthur
41. Eerie, Pennsylvania
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Median annual income: $43,135
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,050
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Average home value: $175,615
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State average home value: $267,924.52
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Difference: $92,309.28
40. Fort Walton Beach, Florida
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Median annual income: $61,820
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,936
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Average home value: $323,668
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State average home value: $417,228.14
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Difference: $93,560.32
39. Norfolk, Virginia
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Median annual income: $60,998
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,785
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Average home value: $298,335
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State average home value: $395,912.17
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Difference: $97,577.51
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38. Lihue, Hawaii
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Median annual income: $73,641
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Monthly mortgage payment: $5,379
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Average home value: $899,211
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State average home value: $996,981.53
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Difference: $97,770.39
37. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Median annual income: $49,733
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,227
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Average home value: $205,132
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State average home value: $306,459.71
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Difference: $101,328.17
36. Jacksonville, Florida
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Median annual income: $64,138
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,859
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Average home value: $310,790
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State average home value: $417,228.14
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Difference: $106,438.27
35. Toledo, Ohio
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Median annual income: $45,405
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Monthly mortgage payment: $712
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Average home value: $119,053
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State average home value: $229,380.80
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Difference: $110,327.96
34. Carrabelle, Florida
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Median annual income: $41,563
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,824
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Average home value: $304,960
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State average home value: $417,228.14
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Difference: $112,268.04
33. Middle River, Maryland
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Median annual income: $72,970
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,881
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Average home value: $314,499
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State average home value: $430,752.21
-
Difference: $116,252.75
Pictured: Ocean City
32. Fort Pierce, Florida
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Median annual income: $45,121
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,797
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Average home value: $300,487
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State average home value: $417,228.14
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Difference: $116,741.07
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31. Palacios, Texas
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Median annual income: $59,469
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,131
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Average home value: $189,139
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State average home value: $308,385.14
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Difference: $119,246.18
Pictured: South Padre Island
30. Brownsville, Texas
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Median annual income: $46,735
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,129
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Average home value: $188,705
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State average home value: $308,385.14
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Difference: $119,680.47
29. Daytona Beach, Florida
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Median annual income: $47,608
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,777
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Average home value: $297,073
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State average home value: $417,228.14
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Difference: $120,154.87
28. Cleveland, Ohio
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Median annual income: $37,271
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Monthly mortgage payment: $643
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Average home value: $107,571
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State average home value: $229,380.80
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Difference: $121,809.89
27. Hampton, Virginia
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Median annual income: $64,430
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,611
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Average home value: $269,250
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State average home value: $395,912.17
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Difference: $126,662.65
Pictured: Virginia Beach
26. Port Lavaca, Texas
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Median annual income: $58,871
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,068
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Average home value: $178,616
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State average home value: $308,385.14
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Difference: $129,769.34
Pictured: Galveston
25. Panama City, Florida
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Median annual income: $57,221
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,702
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Average home value: $284,572
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State average home value: $417,228.14
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Difference: $132,655.75
Related Reading: 4 Reasons You Might Regret Buying a Home in Florida
24. Bremerton, Virginia
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Median annual income: $68,556
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Monthly mortgage payment: $2,823
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Average home value: $471,908
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State average home value: $611,214.65
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Difference: $139,307.00
23. New London, Connecticut
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Median annual income: $56,237
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,713
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Average home value: $286,335
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State average home value: $426,050.76
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Difference: $139,716.20
22. Essex, Maryland
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Median annual income: $67,580
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,671
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Average home value: $279,296
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State average home value: $430,752.21
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Difference: $151,456.35
21. Pensacola, Florida
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Median annual income: $67,722
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,565
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Average home value: $261,647
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State average home value: $417,228.14
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Difference: $155,581.44
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20. Freeport, Texas
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Median annual income: $50,704
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Monthly mortgage payment: $854
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Average home value: $142,728
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State average home value: $308,385.14
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Difference: $165,656.81
Pictured: South Padre Island
19. Port Angeles, Washington
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Median annual income: $60,212
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Monthly mortgage payment: $2,659
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Average home value: $444,541
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State average home value: $611,214.65
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Difference: $166,674.07
18. Detroit, Michigan
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Median annual income: $37,761
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Monthly mortgage payment: $432
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Average home value: $72,292
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State average home value: $243,677.86
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Difference: $171,385.69
17. Salisbury, Maryland
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Median annual income: $53,309
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,527
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Average home value: $255,343
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State average home value: $430,752.21
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Difference: $175,409.63
Pictured: Assateague Island
16. Coos Bay, Oregon
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Median annual income: $60,212
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Monthly mortgage payment: $2,659
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Average home value: $444,541
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State average home value: $611,214.65
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Difference: $166,674.07
15. Port Arthur, Texas
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Median annual income: $45,357
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Monthly mortgage payment: $633
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Average home value: $105,798
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State average home value: $308,385.14
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Difference: $202,587.63
14. Buffalo, New York
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Median annual income: $46,184
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,340
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Average home value: $224,057
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State average home value: $443,364.58
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Difference: $219,307.88
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13. Rochester, New York
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Median annual income: $60,212
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Monthly mortgage payment: $2,659
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Average home value: $444,541
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State average home value: $611,214.65
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Difference: $166,674.07
12. Ocean Shores, Washington
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Median annual income: $54,435
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Monthly mortgage payment: $2,290
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Average home value: $382,766
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State average home value: $611,214.65
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Difference: $611,214.65
11. Long Beach, Washington
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Median annual income: $47,188
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Monthly mortgage payment: $2,275
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Average home value: $380,393
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State average home value: $611,214.65
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Difference: $230,821.85
10. Lanai City, Hawaii
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Median annual income: $80,464
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Monthly mortgage payment: $4,475
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Average home value: $748,093
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State average home value: $996,981.53
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Difference: $248,888.91
Pictured: Kihei
9. Atlantic City, New Jersey
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Median annual income: $35,188
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,416
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Average home value: $236,698
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State average home value: $539,808.00
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Difference: $303,109.59
8. Jamestown, New York
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Median annual income: $39,507
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Monthly mortgage payment: $680
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Average home value: $113,640
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State average home value: $443,364.58
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Difference: $329,724.98
7. Maunaloa, Hawaii
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Median annual income: $80,464
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Monthly mortgage payment: $4,475
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Average home value: $748,093
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State average home value: $996,981.53
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Difference: $248,888.91
Pictured: Holualoa
6. Aberdeen, Washington
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Median annual income: $50,008
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,624
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Average home value: $271,456
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State average home value: $611,214.65
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Difference: $339,758.39
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5. Waianae, Hawaii
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Median annual income: $77,435
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Monthly mortgage payment: $3,814
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Average home value: $637,558
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State average home value: $996,981.53
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Difference: $359,423.57
Pictured: Kauai
4. Eureka, California
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Median annual income: $51,971
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Monthly mortgage payment: $2,485
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Average home value: $415,360
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State average home value: $805,913.17
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Difference: $390,553.57
3. Hilo, Hawaii
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Median annual income: $75,589
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Monthly mortgage payment: $3,091
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Average home value: $516,681
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State average home value: $996,981.53
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Difference: $480,300.53
2. Kaunakakai, Hawaii
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Median annual income: $67,083
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Monthly mortgage payment: $2,736
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Average home value: $457,474
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State average home value: $996,981.53
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Difference: $539,507.34
Pictured: Kihei
1. Clearlake, California
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Median annual income: $41,047
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Monthly mortgage payment: $1,304
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Average home value: $217,921
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State average home value: $805,913.17
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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
