You Can Buy a Home in This Vacation Community for $53,600

Everyone has their favorite type of vacation destination — the beach, the mountains, or a lake. But imagine if, instead of enjoying it only during your vacation if you could actually call a vacation town home. Well, whether you're looking to make a big move or buy a vacation home, you may actually be surprised at how affordable it can be. In fact, you can buy a home in a vacation community on this list for less than some people pay for a new car.

Methodology

To determine the most affordable vacation destinations you can move to, 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 500 residents and a high proportion of housing units vacant for seasonal or recreational use (typically at least 40%) were considered, based on available Census data.

For those with young children or teens, we've also added information about the Niche grade for each location. The methodology for Niche grades includes an analysis of information based on factors such as public schools, housing, diversity, and crime. Niche also analyzes data to determine how family-friendly towns and cities are.

If you're looking for an affordable vacation community to move to, here are some of the best options in the U.S.

This post was updated in October 2025 to include updated images and additional editorial enhancements.

50. Casper Mountain, WY

Median home value: $423,400 (3.0 times income)
Median household income: $140,556
Total population: 628
Overall Niche grade: B-

49. Long Lake, NY

Median home value: $202,100 (3.0 times income)
Median household income: $67,917
Total population: 774
Overall Niche grade: B

48. Saw Creek, PA

Median home value: $196,500 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $67,331
Total population: 4,071
Overall Niche grade: C+

47. Lake Carroll, IL

Median home value: $285,400 (2.9 times income)
Median household income: $99,297
Total population: 758
Overall Niche grade: C+

46. Port O'Connor, TX

Median home value: $256,600 (2.8 times income)
Median household income: $91,150
Total population: 791
Overall Niche grade: C+

45. Basye, VA

Median home value: $241,900 (2.8 times income)
Median household income: $86,028
Total population: 1,341
Overall Niche grade: B-

44. Towamensing Trails, PA

Median home value: $216,200 (2.8 times income)
Median household income: $76,983
Total population: 1,712
Overall Niche grade: C+

43. Port Austin, MI

Median home value: $147,100 (2.8 times income)
Median household income: $53,125
Total population: 667
Overall Niche grade: B+

42. Big River, CA

Median home value: $128,200 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $47,222
Total population: 1,028
Overall Niche grade: C

41. Fawn Lake Forest, PA

Median home value: $211,300 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $78,036
Total population: 667
Overall Niche grade: B+

40. Caseville, MI

Median home value: $142,900 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $52,917
Total population: 674
Overall Niche grade: B-

39. Lake Waynoka, OH

Median home value: $226,400 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $84,063
Total population: 1,103
Overall Niche grade: B

38. Cordry Sweetwater Lakes, IN

Median home value: $283,300 (2.7 times income)
Median household income: $105,673
Total population: 1,328
Overall Niche grade: B

37. The Galena Territory, IL

Median home value: $291,300 (2.6 times income)
Median household income: $112,250
Total population: 1,606
Overall Niche grade: A

36. Cleora, OK

Median home value: $199,600 (2.6 times income)
Median household income: $77,604
Total population: 1,508
Overall Niche grade: A-

35. Blue Ridge Shores, VA

Median home value: $232,900 (2.6 times income)
Median household income: $90,938
Total population: 853
Overall Niche grade: B-

34. Mountain Lakes, NH

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

33. Lakes of the North, MI

Median home value: $158,300 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $62,179
Total population: 1,031
Overall Niche grade: C+

32. Old Forge, NY

Median home value: $335,200 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $132,645
Total population: 573
Overall Niche grade: B

31. Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH

Median home value: $115,600 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $45,755
Total population: 1,085
Overall Niche grade: C+

30. Conneaut Lakeshore, PA

Median home value: $169,000 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $67,063
Total population: 1,933
Overall Niche grade: C+

29. Wells, NY

Median home value: $189,700 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $75,583
Total population: 571
Overall Niche grade: C-

28. Smallwood, NY

Median home value: $157,400 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $63,909
Total population: 657
Overall Niche grade: C+

27. Sylvan Beach, NY

Median home value: $118,400 (2.5 times income)
Median household income: $48,125
Total population: 856
Overall Niche grade: C

26. Bass Lake, IN

Median home value: $170,300 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $70,110
Total population: 1,018
Overall Niche grade: C+

25. Woodridge, NY

Median home value: $167,900 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $70,313
Total population: 936
Overall Niche grade: B-

24. Saybrook-on-the-Lake, OH

Median home value: $144,600 (2.4 times income)
Median household income: $61,094
Total population: 1,112
Overall Niche grade: C

23. Sand Lake, MI

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

22. Lake Medina Shores, TX

Median home value: $132,000 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $56,200
Total population: 532
Overall Niche grade: B-

21. Chokoloskee, FL

Median home value: $213,000 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $91,080
Total population: 1,061
Overall Niche grade: C-

20. Oak Run, IL

Median home value: $267,300 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $117,375
Total population: 673
Overall Niche grade: B-

19. Caroga Lake, NY

Median home value: $114,700 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $50,565
Total population: 577
Overall Niche grade: C-

18. Elsah, IL

Median home value: $187,500 (2.3 times income)
Median household income: $83,125
Total population: 629
Overall Niche grade: A

17. Pocono Pines, PA

Median home value: $211,100 (2.2 times income)
Median household income: $95,833
Total population: 654
Overall Niche grade: B+

16. Rangeley, ME

Median home value: $105,600 (2.2 times income)
Median household income: $48,026
Total population: 568
Overall Niche grade: C+

15. Round Top, NY

Median home value: $199,000 (2.1 times income)
Median household income: $94,353
Total population: 663
Overall Niche grade: B-

14. Wallenpaupack Lake Estates, PA

Median home value: $185,700 (2.1 times income)
Median household income: $90,408
Total population: 1,075
Overall Niche grade: B

13. Lake Michigan Beach, MI

Median home value: $163,800 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $81,023
Total population: 918
Overall Niche grade: B-

12. Chippewa Park, OH

Median home value: $118,000 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $58,661
Total population: 650
Overall Niche grade: C+

11. Pymatuning Central, PA

Median home value: $116,200 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $58,068
Total population: 2,325
Overall Niche grade: C

10. Daufuskie Island, SC

Median home value: $290,400 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $146,349
Total population: 569
Overall Niche grade: A+

9. St. Helen, MI

Median home value: $76,000 (2.0 times income)
Median household income: $38,445
Total population: 2,822
Overall Niche grade: B-

8. Legend Lake, WI

Median home value: $160,700 (1.9 times income)
Median household income: $86,563
Total population: 1,530
Overall Niche grade: C+

7. Atlanta, MI

Median home value: $68,000 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $38,000
Total population: 576
Overall Niche grade: C

6. Thunderbird Bay, TX

Median home value: $76,700 (1.8 times income)
Median household income: $43,750
Total population: 766
Overall Niche grade: B+

5. Indian Lake, MO

Median home value: $182,400 (1.7 times income)
Median household income: $105,108
Total population: 1,000
Overall Niche grade: C

4. Salome, AZ

Median home value: $116,600 (1.5 times income)
Median household income: $79,745
Total population: 708
Overall Niche grade: C-

3. Lake Colorado City, TX

Median home value: $90,200 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $65,000
Total population: 903
Overall Niche grade: A-

2. Desert Edge, CA

Median home value: $53,600 (1.4 times income)
Median household income: $38,668
Total population: 3,715
Overall Niche grade: B-

1. Buffalo, IN

Median home value: $137,800 (1.1 times income)
Median household income: $120,333
Total population: 776
Overall Niche grade: C