17 Excellent American Beach Towns You Can Afford to Live In

Much like NFL season tickets, or an ultra-expensive sports car, “a house by the beach” is one of those commonly desired albeit unobtainable luxuries. . . or is it? Thanks to SmartAsset crunching some numbers on various different aspects, we have managed to come up with the 17 cheapest beach towns in the entire country:

17. Deerfield Beach, Florida

 

Located between Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale, this city provides easy access to nearly all of South Florida. The beach itself is large and wide and is somehow never, ever too crowded. It includes some of the state’s best breweries such as 26 Degrees and Holy Mackerel.

16. Lake Worth, Florida

 

This place was once only populated by University of Miami football team recruits and old folks. Now downtown is dominated by culture and the arts. The city has numerous art galleries and holds one of the country’s largest street painting festivals. Stop in at the popular Mulligan’s Beach House, too.

15. Port Angeles, Washington

 

 

This place is close to the “‘Twilight’-famous” Forks. Located on the well-known Olympic Peninsula, this Pacific Northwest beach location is mere miles from the Olympic National Park, is great for whale-watching trips, and is just a short ferry ride across the Puget Sound to Seattle.

14. Coos Bay, Oregon

 

 

Found on the southern border of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, one scenic highlight here is the cliff-ensconced Sunset Bay, State Park. You can regularly explore the various hiking trails and enjoy a Lighthouse Session pale ale at 7 Devils Brewing too.

13. Gulf Shores, Alabama

 

Gulf Shores borders the state’s best park. It includes 15 miles of bike trails too. It hosts the annual Hangout Music Festival and it’s even got a brewery at Big Beach. You will also be paying some of the very lowest property taxes in the nation to boot.

12. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

 

They still hold the famous Myrtle Beach Bike Week here but there is also a newer downtown promenade and a 1+ mile span of beach boardwalk. It is actually a more urbane spot now. There’s also a minor-league baseball park–one of the best in the nation–and they have the lowest property taxes on this list. Finally, there is also 60 miles of undeveloped, untouched beach as well.

11. Fort Walton Beach, Florida

 

 

Here on Okaloosa Island, you will find world-class beaches as good as those in Panama City and Destin with less people too. Since the rea is not as developed, you won’t be spending too much money to buy a house right next to two-story vacation rentals either.

10. Melbourne, Florida

 

 

This city hits “best of” lists as often as Orlando. It includes the best small-town zoo in the US, the Brevard Zoo. The beaches are less crowded too. For less than a quarter of the price of a Miami condo, you can buy a six-room house.

9. Fort Pierce, Florida

 

You simply won’t find a cheaper beach house anywhere else in the state. This is the only city on the Florida coast where you can purchase a decent home for less than $100,000. Situated between Orlando and Miami, you can visit South Beach and Disney World too.

8. Daytona Beach, Florida

 

 

Unless you’re a binge drinker, don’t worry about your lawn being littered with Natty Light beer cans every March because DB is breaking away from being a “spring break” city. If you need some big city amenities you can take a short cruise into nearby Orlando too.

7. Freeport, Texas

 

 

This port city has a population of almost 12,000. It is roughly 63 miles south from Houston on the well-known Gulf of Mexico. While the beaches are not pristine white, the fishing here is good and there are fewer tourists to bother you.

6. Ocean Springs, Mississippi

 

 

This place is located on the Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast. The bars on Government Street (complete with live music on the weekends) are easily accessible. You can boat to the barrier islands too. Yet another reason why it is one of America’s best beach towns.

 

5. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

 

 

Some say this is like “Sausalito on the Bayou.” The city streets include antique shops, art galleries, and restaurants. There’s a Cajun vibe here and many residents work in nearby New Orleans. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, it’s quite artistic.

4. Port Arthur, Texas

 

This is the cheapest beach city in which to purchase a home. Located on Sabine Lake and across from Louisiana. It also neighbors such protected areas as Sea Rim State Park and Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge.

3. Biloxi, Mississippi

 

 

This Southern party town is reportedly affordable even without the complimentary beverages in their casinos. Property taxes will run you about $1,012. Annual housing costs are under $10,000. It’s got great access to beaches and wilderness too.

2. Pensacola, Florida

 

 

The state’s westernmost city is best known for a television series named “Wings of Gold.” It includes the famous Naval Air Station and beautiful beaches on its Southern shores. It’s also half-host to the Flora-Bama bar on Alabama’s state line.

1. Gulfport, Mississippi

 

The second-largest city in the state and perhaps the country’s most underappreciated, this spot also includes one of the top breweries in the state and an alley that was designed after Cleveland’s East Fourth Street which is lined with restaurants and bars and is closed to all motor vehicles.

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