10 Beach Towns You Can Afford To Live in for Life
There are coastal towns across the country where housing and everyday living costs are more affordable than many people expect.
These beach communities offer the chance to enjoy a coastal lifestyle without sacrificing long-term financial stability.
Find Out: 4 Best Florida Cities With Home Values Under $350K
For You: 14 Subtly Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money — That You Should Do, Too
1. Racine, Wisconsin
Average home value: $215,994
Cost of living compared to national average: 8% below
Average yearly salary: $68,053
Situated on the banks of Lake Michigan between Chicago and Milwaukee, this charming coastal city has waterfront views. Racine’s downtown area has many restaurants and retail shops. There are also art galleries, museums, farmers markets and free events for residents and visitors to enjoy.
2. Panama City, Florida
Average home value: $284,235
Cost of living compared to national average: 4% below
Average yearly salary: $62,066
Panama City sits along St. Andrews Bay in the Florida Panhandle. Residents and visitors find the many waterfront parks appealing and take delight in the performing arts, museums and art galleries.
3. Mentor, Ohio
Average home value: $298,971
Cost of living compared to national average: 7% below
Average yearly salary: $67,367
Mentor is a little over 30 minutes from Cleveland on Lake Erie with easy access to fishing and boating. Residents appreciate the highly rated public school system, Ohio’s longest natural beach (Mentor Headlands Beach) and the Great Lakes Mall.
4. Daphne, Alabama
Average home value: $335,160
Cost of living compared to national average: 13% below
Average yearly salary: $61,553
Daphne or “Jubilee City” as it is fondly named, is located on the eastern shoreline of Mobile Bay. Residents take pleasure in the Mobile Bay Jubilee, held several times during the summer. It consists of a natural phenomenon where multitudes of flounder, crab, shrimp and sometimes other fish or eels are pushed upward onto the shore.
5. Holland, Michigan
Average home value: $379,544
Cost of living compared to national average: 5% below
Average yearly salary: $65,272
Holland is found on the Lake Michigan shoreline. Residents enjoy activities at Holland State Park Beach and Tunnel Park Beach. The Dutch influence is evident in the architecture, attractions, shops, restaurants, and the Tulip Time Festival in May.
6. Webster, New York
Average home value: $394,775
Cost of living compared to national average: 5% above
Average yearly salary: $68,004
Webster is a suburb of Rochester on Lake Ontario with a “main-street village” center inside its modern suburban town. The village features older homes within walking distance to shops, restaurants and small businesses. Residents immerse themselves in outdoor recreation with water sports, fishing and walking.
7. Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Average home value: $425,603
Cost of living compared to national average: 1% above
Average yearly salary: $68,652
Wauwatosa has a small-town appeal with many boutique shops and dining. With live music events, 12 parks that include hiking trails, the monarch butterfly migration, golf, biking and skateboarding, there are attractions for everyone.
8. Southport, North Carolina
Average home value: $425,608
Cost of living compared to national average: 5% below
Average yearly salary: $62,731
A small coastal town, Southport, sits along the Cape Fear River, close to the Atlantic. It offers access to waterfront parks, beaches and marinas for outdoor fun. Local dining, shops and galleries scatter its downtown.
9. Deerfield Beach, Florida
Average home value: $427,473
Cost of living compared to national average: 27% higher
Average yearly salary: $68,172
Near Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, a laid-back coastal town, offers activities including scuba diving, snorkeling, water skiing, wakeboarding, and paddleboarding. Residents can also visit the Ski Rixen USA water park that features cable wakeboarding. For a unique style of Oysters Rockefeller, The Whale’s Rib Raw Bar is the place to go.
10. Panama City Beach, Florida
Average home value: $430,597
Cost of living compared to national average: 2% higher
Average yearly salary: $62,041
Panama City Beach has a 27-mile-long coastline and state parks with year-round activities including bird watching, camping, hiking, and fishing. Residents enjoy morning beach walks and evening sunset views all year long. Even after the tourists are gone, Panama City Beach still has seasonal events throughout the year for its residents.
Editor's note: Average home vlaues for the listed cities were sourced from MoveBuddha. Cost-of-living data and average yearly salary information were sourced from ERI Economic Research Institute.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion: