Live in a Hiker’s Dream Town for Less Than $63,000

Many of us visit the great outdoors on vacation. We may get a week or two, or perhaps even just a weekend, to experience nature at its finest and explore the beautiful scenic trails and forests nature has to offer, whether biking and camping or swimming and hiking. For families who love to be outdoors for more than a few days, the notion of living in a hiking town is ideal.

The hiking towns we have listed here offer a multitude of trails to explore and plenty of vistas from which to draw inspiration. Even better, these areas have incredibly affordable homes with some offering homes for less than $63,000.

To determine the most affordable hiking 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.

We've also added the overall grade from Niche.com for each town or the surrounding area. The methodology for each rating includes an analysis of factors such as cost of living, public schools, and outdoor activities.

Only places with at least 2,500 residents and at least half a mile of hiking trail per 10 square miles of land area were included. Spatial data on hiking trails is from the U.S. Forest Service.

This post was updated in September 2025 to include information from Niche.com to make it more relevant to families.

50. Choccolocco, AL

Median home value: $218,800 (3.2 times income)
Median household income: $67,975
Total population: 2,776
Overall Niche grade: B+

49. Dalton, GA

Median home value: $182,500 (3.2 times income)
Median household income: $57,163
Total population: 34,358
Overall Niche grade: B+

48. Los Alamos, NM

Median home value: $410,100 (3.1 times income)
Median household income: $130,342
Total population: 13,460
Overall Niche grade: A+

47. Baldwin, GA

Median home value: $150,700 (3.1 times income)
Median household income: $48,234
Total population: 3,817
Overall Niche grade: B

46. Superior, AZ

Median home value: $123,600 (3.1 times income)
Median household income: $39,600
Total population: 2,639
Overall Niche grade: B-

45. Montpelier, ID

Median home value: $158,000 (3.1 times income)
Median household income: $50,668
Total population: 2,649
Overall Niche grade: B-

44. Lead, SD

Median home value: $169,800 (3.1 times income)
Median household income: $54,555
Total population: 2,993
Overall Niche grade: B-

43. Big Stone Gap, VA

Median home value: $163,000 (3.1 times income)
Median household income: $52,663
Total population: 5,221
Overall Niche grade: B

42. Buena Vista, VA

Median home value: $148,800 (3.1 times income)
Median household income: $48,783
Total population: 6,639
Overall Niche grade: B

41. Sierra Vista, AZ

Median home value: $215,900 (3.0 times income)
Median household income: $70,899
Total population: 45,212
Overall Niche grade: A-

40. Clifton Forge, VA

Median home value: $97,400 (3.0 times income)
Median household income: $32,007
Total population: 3,541
Overall Niche grade: B-

39. Hollins, VA

Median home value: $214,400 (3.0 times income)
Median household income: $71,530
Total population: 16,386
Overall Niche grade: B+

38. Summerset, SD

Median home value: $290,500 (3.0 times income)
Median household income: $98,194
Total population: 2,950
Overall Niche grade: B+

37. Corbin, KY

Median home value: $155,700 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $52,929
Total population: 8,611
Overall Niche grade: B+

36. Avery Creek, NC

Median home value: $307,800 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $104,808
Total population: 3,338
Overall Niche grade: A

35. Green River, WY

Median home value: $244,600 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $83,497
Total population: 11,772
Overall Niche grade: B+

34. Alamogordo, NM

Median home value: $148,500 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $50,721
Total population: 30,996
Overall Niche grade: B

33. Oracle, AZ

Median home value: $187,300 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $64,247
Total population: 3,146
Overall Niche grade: B-

32. White Rock, NM

Median home value: $420,000 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $144,661
Total population: 5,592
Overall Niche grade: A+

31. Globe, AZ

Median home value: $187,100 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $64,516
Total population: 7,230
Overall Niche grade: B-

30. Etowah, TN

Median home value: $122,500 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $42,571
Total population: 3,614
Overall Niche grade: B

29. Norton, VA

Median home value: $104,200 (2.8 times income)
Median household income: $36,974
Total population: 3,668
Overall Niche grade: B+

28. Blue Ridge, VA

Median home value: $237,000 (2.8 times income)
Median household income: $84,766
Total population: 2,994
Overall Niche grade: B+

27. Shenandoah, VA

Median home value: $177,700 (2.8 times income)
Median household income: $64,410
Total population: 3,020
Overall Niche grade: C

26. Lakeview, OR

Median home value: $143,800 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $52,574
Total population: 2,947
Overall Niche grade: B

25. Spring Creek, NV

Median home value: $299,500 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $109,952
Total population: 15,062
Overall Niche grade: C+

24. Eagar, AZ

Median home value: $210,100 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $82,538
Total population: 4,425
Overall Niche grade: B+

23. Marienville, PA

Median home value: $109,800 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $43,403
Total population: 3,191
Overall Niche grade: C+

22. Marion, NC

Median home value: $122,200 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $48,520
Total population: 7,652
Overall Niche grade: B

21. Toccoa, GA

Median home value: $124,400 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $49,860
Total population: 9,055
Overall Niche grade: B-

20. Paris, AR

Median home value: $112,400 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $45,505
Total population: 3,214
Overall Niche grade: B

19. Summerville, GA

Median home value: $68,300 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $27,694
Total population: 4,381
Overall Niche grade: C+

18. Russell, KY

Median home value: $199,100 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $80,750
Total population: 3,704
Overall Niche grade: A

17. Grants, NM

Median home value: $137,100 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $55,631
Total population: 9,177
Overall Niche grade: C+

16. Oxford, AL

Median home value: $161,700 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $66,031
Total population: 22,019
Overall Niche grade: A

15. Ely, NV

Median home value: $185,900 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $77,076
Total population: 3,957
Overall Niche grade: B

14. Piedmont, AL

Median home value: $106,500 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $44,944
Total population: 4,761
Overall Niche grade: B+

13. Ironton, OH

Median home value: $103,500 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $43,702
Total population: 10,597
Overall Niche grade: B-

12. Benson, AZ

Median home value: $117,800 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $49,955
Total population: 5,318
Overall Niche grade: B

11. Meadow Lake, NM

Median home value: $85,600 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $36,525
Total population: 4,745
Overall Niche grade: C+

10. Pearisburg, VA

Median home value: $160,100 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $70,905
Total population: 2,876
Overall Niche grade: B-

9. Berlin, NH

Median home value: $93,200 (2.2 times income)
Median household income: $41,638
Total population: 9,485
Overall Niche grade: C

8. Richwood, WV

Median home value: $68,000 (2.2 times income)
Median household income: $30,962
Total population: 2,567
Overall Niche grade: C

7. Mena, AR

Median home value: $110,700 (2.1 times income)
Median household income: $53,288
Total population: 5,605
Overall Niche grade: B-

6. Warren, PA

Median home value: $97,100 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $49,609
Total population: 9,353
Overall Niche grade: B

5. Flatwoods, KY

Median home value: $106,600 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $58,294
Total population: 7,312
Overall Niche grade: B+

4. Covington, VA

Median home value: $80,100 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $45,737
Total population: 5,722
Overall Niche grade: B-

3. Ridgway, PA

Median home value: $84,100 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $50,658
Total population: 4,014
Overall Niche grade: B+

2. Kane, PA

Median home value: $62,800 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $45,481
Total population: 3,605
Overall Niche grade: B

1. Clifton, AZ

Median home value: $65,500 (0.8 times income)
Median household income: $78,862
Total population: 3,869
Overall Niche grade: A-