Homes in This Fishing Town Are as Affordable as a New Car

Purchasing a home can be expensive, and if you choose to live near a major city, the prices can be especially high and can seem quite out of reach for many, particularly for first-time homebuyers. But if you still have your sights set on owning a home, there are still plenty of options available to you. Even better — for those who enjoy fishing — some of the most affordable locations are fishing towns where homes are as affordable as a new car.

Urban settings may be highly desirable for many. Still, there is no denying that these locals are missing what many suburban and rural settings provide — waterfront living, which, for those who call fishing their hobby, is an ideal location to call home. Whether you're looking to purchase your first home or perhaps want to buy a weekend escape from city life, homes in these affordable fishing towns are ideal.

To determine the most affordable fishing towns, Moms Who Think 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.

Places were prioritized if they had at least 100 owner-occupied housing units and a federally recognized hunting area with fishing available within a 15-mile radius. Spatial data on hunting areas specified by available game is from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Additionally, we've included the overall Niche grade for each town or surrounding area from Niche.com. According to the Niche methodology, the ratings are based on factors such as cost of living, quality of public schools, and family-friendly living.

This post was updated in March 2026 to include updated information about affordable fishing towns.

50. Murphysboro, IL

Median home value: $106,162 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $42,367
Total population: 7,044
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: C+

49. Energy, IL

Median home value: $150,244 (2.2 times income)
Median household income: $70,417
Total population: 960
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: A-

48. Hamshire, TX

Median home value: $281,300 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $115,125
Total population: 1,460
Nearest hunting area with fish: McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B+

47. Hurst, IL

Median home value: $131,000 (3.8 times income)
Median household income: $34,113
Total population: 750
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B

46. Cassville, WI

Median home value: $170,634 (3.0 times income)
Median household income: $57,708
Total population: 761
Nearest hunting area with fish: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Overall Niche grade: C

45. Oceanville, NJ

Median home value: $405,000 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $163,459
Total population: 793
Nearest hunting area with fish: Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B+

44. Minorca, LA

Median home value: $82,000 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $43,438
Total population: 1,398
Nearest hunting area with fish: St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: C+

43. Herrin, IL

Median home value: $102,400 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $54,555
Total population: 12,344
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B+

42. Camp Douglas, WI

Median home value: $108,000 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $58,750
Total population: 739
Nearest hunting area with fish: Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: C+

41. Brandon, WI

Median home value: $145,400 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $79,688
Total population: 842
Nearest hunting area with fish: Horicon National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B+

40. Newellton, LA

Median home value: $46,600 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $25,614
Total population: 896
Nearest hunting area with fish: Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: C-

39. Preston, IA

Median home value: $147,900 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $81,542
Total population: 1,005
Nearest hunting area with fish: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B

38. Bridge City, TX

Median home value: $172,200 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $95,688
Total population: 9,461
Nearest hunting area with fish: Sabine National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: A-

37. Towner, ND

Median home value: $90,300 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $51,500
Total population: 456
Nearest hunting area with fish: J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B

36. Spillertown, IL

Median home value: $118,300 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $68,125
Total population: 315
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B+

35. West Frankfort, IL

Median home value: $71,700 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $41,974
Total population: 7,168
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B-

34. Marine View, WA

Median home value: $97,100 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $57,500
Total population: 336
Nearest hunting area with fish: Hanford Reach National Monument
Overall Niche grade: C+

33. Rio Hondo, TX

Median home value: $97,700 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $58,487
Total population: 2,295
Nearest hunting area with fish: Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: C+

32. Patrick, SC

Median home value: $50,500 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $30,263
Total population: 500
Nearest hunting area with fish: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B-

31. De Soto, IL

Median home value: $86,300 (1.6 times income)
Median household income: $53,188
Total population: 1,684
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B+

30. De Valls Bluff, AR

Median home value: $37,400 (1.6 times income)
Median household income: $23,056
Total population: 560
Nearest hunting area with fish: Cache River National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B-

29. West Orange, TX

Median home value: $98,200 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $63,409
Total population: 3,444
Nearest hunting area with fish: Sabine National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B

28. North Hartsville, SC

Median home value: $109,800 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $71,000
Total population: 3,261
Nearest hunting area with fish: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: A

27. Cotton Plant, AR

Median home value: $27,700 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $18,250
Total population: 425
Nearest hunting area with fish: Cache River National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: C-

26. Goreville, IL

Median home value: $110,400 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $73,523
Total population: 1,146
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B-

25. DeWitt, AR

Median home value: $70,500 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $47,147
Total population: 3,017
Nearest hunting area with fish: Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B

24. Thomson, IL

Median home value: $100,700 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $67,500
Total population: 1,284
Nearest hunting area with fish: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Overall Niche grade: C

23. Mount Carroll, IL

Median home value: $95,200 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $63,992
Total population: 1,560
Nearest hunting area with fish: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B

22. Swan Quarter, NC

Median home value: $97,500 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $65,806
Total population: 293
Nearest hunting area with fish: Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: C+

21. King Cove, AK

Median home value: $118,200 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $79,844
Total population: 1,108
Nearest hunting area with fish: Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B-

20. Elaine, AR

Median home value: $57,800 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $39,196
Total population: 544
Nearest hunting area with fish: Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: C

19. Johnston City, IL

Median home value: $75,800 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $51,429
Total population: 3,377
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B

18. Holiday Beach, TX

Median home value: $136,800 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $95,066
Total population: 291
Nearest hunting area with fish: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B

17. Jet, OK

Median home value: $73,800 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $51,450
Total population: 251
Nearest hunting area with fish: Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: A

16. Savanna, IL

Median home value: $64,700 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $45,474
Total population: 2,783
Nearest hunting area with fish: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B-

15. Bush, IL

Median home value: $75,400 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $53,125
Total population: 324
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B

14. McBee, SC

Median home value: $80,500 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $56,964
Total population: 1,046
Nearest hunting area with fish: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: A-

13. De Soto, WI

Median home value: $114,600 (1.3 times income)
Median household income: $86,996
Total population: 539
Nearest hunting area with fish: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Overall Niche grade: C

12. Zeigler, IL

Median home value: $53,700 (1.3 times income)
Median household income: $41,518
Total population: 1,503
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: C+

11. Cherokee, OK

Median home value: $96,500 (1.3 times income)
Median household income: $75,547
Total population: 1,556
Nearest hunting area with fish: Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B+

10. Ridgecrest, LA

Median home value: $48,900 (1.3 times income)
Median household income: $38,472
Total population: 855
Nearest hunting area with fish: St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B-

9. Reid Hope King, TX

Median home value: $100,200 (1.3 times income)
Median household income: $79,894
Total population: 926
Nearest hunting area with fish: Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B

8. Royalton, IL

Median home value: $55,400 (1.3 times income)
Median household income: $44,313
Total population: 1,067
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B-

7. Holton, IN

Median home value: $82,000 (1.2 times income)
Median household income: $65,714
Total population: 652
Nearest hunting area with fish: Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: C+

6. Orient, IL

Median home value: $46,700 (1.2 times income)
Median household income: $37,938
Total population: 311
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: B-

5. Gillett, AR

Median home value: $79,700 (1.2 times income)
Median household income: $65,341
Total population: 491
Nearest hunting area with fish: Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Niche grade: A-