Love The Snow? Own a Home in a Snowmobiling Paradise for Under $43K

For those among us who love cold weather, and all that comes with the winter season, there are certain towns and cities that might be your ideal place to live. These are those neighborhoods that see heavier snowfall, have a frigid chill in the air, and are ideal as a snowmobiling winter-wonderland paradise.

We all have different preferences when it comes to weather and temperature, but if your idea of heaven is spending time outdoors in a winter wonderland, bundled up with a hat, gloves, scarf, boots, and a heavy coat, then it might be time for you to own a home in these affordable 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 to determine the snowmobiling paradise where homes are most affordable. Cities, towns, and Census-designated places were ranked based on the ratio of median home value to median household income.

Only places with at least 100 owner-occupied housing units overlapping official snowmobiling trails were considered. Spatial data on hiking and snowmobiling trails is from the U.S. Forest Service. (For other affordable options, check out these mountain towns.)

50. Lakeview, OR

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

49. Wallingford, VT

Median home value: $246,600 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $91,111
Total population: 786

48. Brimley, MI

Median home value: $149,000 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $55,625
Total population: 382

47. Mountain Lakes, NH

Median home value: $150,800 (2.6 times income)
Median household income: $59,107
Total population: 597

46. Au Sable, MI

Median home value: $103,000 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $40,395
Total population: 1,667

45. East Middlebury, VT

Median home value: $233,500 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $92,241
Total population: 483

44. Marienville, PA

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

43. Mountain Iron, MN

Median home value: $166,900 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $67,429
Total population: 2,862

42. Brethren, MI

Median home value: $95,900 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $38,810
Total population: 392

41. White Cloud, MI

Median home value: $111,000 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $45,682
Total population: 1,197

40. Taconite, MN

Median home value: $169,000 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $70,000
Total population: 625

39. Twin Lake, MI

Median home value: $189,000 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $78,322
Total population: 1,885

38. Cadillac, MI

Median home value: $107,500 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $45,123
Total population: 10,400

37. Gorham, NH

Median home value: $132,800 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $55,845
Total population: 2,043

36. Sand Lake, MI

Median home value: $109,100 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $46,250
Total population: 1,178

35. Mountain, WI

Median home value: $110,200 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $46,875
Total population: 262

34. Rothbury, MI

Median home value: $108,600 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $46,204
Total population: 355

33. Montague, MI

Median home value: $163,300 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $70,547
Total population: 2,514

32. Lisbon, NH

Median home value: $147,200 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $64,208
Total population: 872

31. Idaho City, ID

Median home value: $95,600 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $42,361
Total population: 673

30. Munising, MI

Median home value: $112,700 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $50,069
Total population: 2,003

29. Berlin, NH

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

28. Virginia, MN

Median home value: $111,200 (2.2 times income)
Median household income: $49,789
Total population: 8,415

27. Burdett, NY

Median home value: $125,000 (2.2 times income)
Median household income: $56,250
Total population: 413

26. Mio, MI

Median home value: $95,000 (2.2 times income)
Median household income: $43,750
Total population: 1,358

25. Aurora, MN

Median home value: $81,500 (2.1 times income)
Median household income: $39,500
Total population: 1,775

24. New Era, MI

Median home value: $162,000 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $79,688
Total population: 441

23. Buhl, MN

Median home value: $113,000 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $55,925
Total population: 1,028

22. Chiloquin, OR

Median home value: $80,300 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $40,781
Total population: 696

21. North Warren, PA

Median home value: $104,700 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $53,295
Total population: 1,922

20. Warren, PA

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

19. Tidioute, PA

Median home value: $79,000 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $40,385
Total population: 802

18. Lakewood Club, MI

Median home value: $120,900 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $63,796
Total population: 1,342

17. Newaygo, MI

Median home value: $86,600 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $45,733
Total population: 2,458

16. Cook, MN

Median home value: $79,800 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $43,750
Total population: 459

15. Lodi, NY

Median home value: $84,200 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $47,125
Total population: 303

14. Bessemer, MI

Median home value: $86,400 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $49,323
Total population: 1,708

13. Oscoda, MI

Median home value: $67,500 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $40,242
Total population: 918

12. Watersmeet, MI

Median home value: $82,500 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $49,333
Total population: 243

11. Ridgway, PA

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

10. Babbitt, MN

Median home value: $87,600 (1.6 times income)
Median household income: $53,875
Total population: 1,377

9. Wakefield, MI

Median home value: $61,500 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $41,837
Total population: 1,554

8. Lewis Run, PA

Median home value: $109,300 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $75,750
Total population: 690

7. Kane, PA

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

6. Biwabik, MN

Median home value: $88,300 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $64,886
Total population: 764

5. Mount Jewett, PA

Median home value: $66,900 (1.2 times income)
Median household income: $54,750
Total population: 677

4. Hoyt Lakes, MN

Median home value: $84,900 (1.2 times income)
Median household income: $70,583
Total population: 2,095

3. White Pine, MI

Median home value: $50,900 (1.1 times income)
Median household income: $44,602
Total population: 415

2. Marenisco, MI

Median home value: $42,800 (1.1 times income)
Median household income: $39,306
Total population: 249

1. Ramsay, MI

Median home value: $46,600 (0.8 times income)
Median household income: $57,708
Total population: 272