Buy a Home in This Fishing Town for Less Than the Cost of a New Car

Fishing is a favorite pastime for many American families. Casting a line and awaiting the perfect moment to reel in your catch — few things are more exhilarating than that. And to share that feeling with loved ones? Simply the best.

If you happen to live in an urban setting or far from the water, it can be challenging to find time to enjoy this family hobby. However, if you're considering a move to a location with plenty of fishing nearby, you'll be excited to explore this list of affordable fishing towns.

According to the 2024 Special Report on Fishing, nearly 43 million Americans ages 6 and over went freshwater fishing in 2023. In 2024, a record 57.9 million Americans ages 6 and up participated in recreational fishing.

Although the national participation rate for children ages 6 to 12 declined in 2023, the report does not specify a 14% increase for ages 13 to 17.

Methodology

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

We also included the overall Niche grade for each town or surrounding area, which is based on data such as cost of living, public schools, crime and safety, and diversity.

This post was updated in October 2025 to include additional information about the ratings for each town to make it more relevant to families.

50. Murphysboro, IL

Median home value: $109,950–$123,300 (2025 estimate; 2.6–2.9 times income)
Median household income: $42,367
Total population: 7,101
Overall Niche grade: B
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

49. Energy, IL

Median home value: $151,940–$167,000 (2025 estimate; 2.2–2.4 times income)
Median household income: $83,661 (2025 estimate)
Total population: 1,227
Overall Niche grade: A-
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

48. Hamshire, TX

Median home value: $215,500–$251,734 (2025 estimate; 1.9–2.2 times income)
Median household income: $115,125 (2025)
Total population: 1,568
Overall Niche grade: B+
Nearest hunting area with fish: McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge

47. Hurst, IL

Median home value: $71,700 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $34,113
Total population: 769
Overall Niche grade: B
Nearest hunting area with fish: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

46. Cassville, WI

Median home value: $108,800 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $57,143
Total population: 731
Overall Niche grade: C+
Nearest hunting area with fish: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

45. Oceanville, NJ

Median home value: $302,000 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $158,967
Total population: 826
Overall Niche grade: B+
Nearest hunting area with fish: Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

44. Minorca, LA

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

43. Herrin, IL

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

42. Camp Douglas, WI

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

41. Brandon, WI

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

40. Newellton, LA

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

39. Preston, IA

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

38. Bridge City, TX

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

37. Towner, ND

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

36. Spillertown, IL

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

35. West Frankfort, IL

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

34. Marine View, WA

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

33. Rio Hondo, TX

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

32. Patrick, SC

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

31. De Soto, IL

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

30. De Valls Bluff, AR

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

29. West Orange, TX

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

28. North Hartsville, SC

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

27. Cotton Plant, AR

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

26. Goreville, IL

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

25. DeWitt, AR

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

24. Thomson, IL

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

23. Mount Carroll, IL

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

22. Swan Quarter, NC

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

21. King Cove, AK

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

20. Elaine, AR

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

19. Johnston City, IL

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

18. Holiday Beach, TX

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

17. Jet, OK

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

16. Savanna, IL

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

15. Bush, IL

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

14. McBee, SC

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

13. De Soto, WI

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

12. Zeigler, IL

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

11. Cherokee, OK

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

10. Ridgecrest, LA

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

9. Reid Hope King, TX

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

8. Royalton, IL

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

7. Holton, IN

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

6. Orient, IL

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

5. Gillett, AR

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