The most affordable lake towns all offer residents and visitors plenty to do. I know lake towns all too well as I live in a lake town. My town borders two lakes. The beaches, nature trails, and wildlife never stop impressing me. No matter which season it is, activities include swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, walking, ice skating, ice fishing, and bird watching. Opportunities on or near the lake abound. There are also plenty of scenes to capture with a camera if photography is a hobby.
Head away from the beaches and lakeshore to find shops, restaurants, museums, theaters, and historic sites to explore. Lake-town living is wonderful, but some lake towns are more affordable than others. In my area, it’s easy to spend millions to live on the shores and have views of Lake Champlain. Vermont’s also expensive, so you won’t find this state on my list of lake towns. That doesn’t mean everywhere is unaffordable. Where can people go to find low-cost homes and also gain all of the benefits that come from living near a lake?
My list of the most affordable lake towns spans the U.S. Explore lake towns in southern states like Texas or head north to Wisconsin. Lake towns in Maine put New England on this list or head west to South Dakota. Whether you’re looking for small and quaint or big and bustling, there are a variety of excellent options. Some of the best lakes in the U.S. are part of national parks. (After this article, discover The 11 Best National Parks to Visit in Good Weather .)
Methodology:
To determine the most affordable beach towns, 24/7 Tempo 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 2,500 residents near lakes of at least one square mile in area were considered. Boundary definitions for places came from the U.S. Census Bureau, while boundary definitions for lakes came from Esri .
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3JrACu_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=3JrACu_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: daveynin / Flickr
- Median home value: $114,000 (2.1 times income)
- Median household income: $54,680
- Total population: 5,795
- Largest lake: Rainy Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2BZjzU_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=2BZjzU_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: AbeSnap23 / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $107,900 (2.1 times income)
- Median household income: $51,949
- Total population: 5,097
- Largest lake: Braunig Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0beofy_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=0beofy_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Michael-Tatman / iStock via Getty Images
- Median home value: $98,900 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $48,378
- Total population: 9,266
- Largest lake: Alexander Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1AP6Hu_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1AP6Hu_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Jacob Boomsma / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $111,800 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $54,868
- Total population: 3,130
- Largest lake: Lake Oahe
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3pNg9W_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=3pNg9W_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
- Median home value: $89,200 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $43,843
- Total population: 3,500
- Largest lake: Ely Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1SpY98_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1SpY98_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: g-stockstudio / Getty Images
- Median home value: $141,900 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $70,086
- Total population: 3,641
- Largest lake: Eagle Nest Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=20ZBPn_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=20ZBPn_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: SevenMaps / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $171,200 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $84,963
- Total population: 5,537
- Largest lake: Eau Claire Flowage
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0lslQN_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=0lslQN_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: gaffera / E+ via Getty Images
- Median home value: $84,000 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $41,875
- Total population: 2,877
- Largest lake: Roanoke Rapids Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0wl0Vj_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=0wl0Vj_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: SevenMaps / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $162,300 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $81,044
- Total population: 6,266
- Largest lake: Mosquito Creek Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1YQzGh_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1YQzGh_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Marshan3q / Wikimedia Commons
- Median home value: $111,400 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $55,850
- Total population: 11,804
- Largest lake: Timber Creek Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=06VEMr_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=06VEMr_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Andriy Blokhin / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $95,800 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $48,125
- Total population: 6,880
- Largest lake: West Point Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1aiIUX_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1aiIUX_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: PianoMark / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $111,100 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $55,876
- Total population: 6,561
- Largest lake: Lake Paula
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2AHkjx_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=2AHkjx_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Marine2844 / iStock via Getty Images
- Median home value: $91,000 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $45,833
- Total population: 3,009
- Largest lake: Bluestem Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2jH0ri_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=2jH0ri_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Samantha R Carter / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $104,200 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $52,921
- Total population: 12,882
- Largest lake: El Dorado Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3oJGfz_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=3oJGfz_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: SylvieBouchard / Getty Images
- Median home value: $162,400 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $82,670
- Total population: 3,066
- Largest lake: Shawnee Reservoir
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Us8Qz_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1Us8Qz_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: James Marciniak / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $156,600 (2.0 times income)
- Median household income: $80,099
- Total population: 3,838
- Largest lake: Mogadore Reservoir
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0AAa8R_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=0AAa8R_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
- Median home value: $123,000 (1.9 times income)
- Median household income: $63,214
- Total population: 4,586
- Largest lake: Green Bay
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4FC03F_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=4FC03F_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: DebraMillet / Getty Images
- Median home value: $123,100 (1.9 times income)
- Median household income: $63,602
- Total population: 12,670
- Largest lake: Seneca Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1JOunj_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1JOunj_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: IrinaK / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $152,000 (1.9 times income)
- Median household income: $78,750
- Total population: 2,713
- Largest lake: Deer Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1WToS1_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1WToS1_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: SevenMaps / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $87,600 (1.9 times income)
- Median household income: $45,500
- Total population: 4,907
- Largest lake: Averys Millpond
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4dqCJR_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=4dqCJR_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Sandra S Newman / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $86,900 (1.9 times income)
- Median household income: $45,345
- Total population: 4,136
- Largest lake: South Twin Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4cH0cZ_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=4cH0cZ_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Median home value: $117,100 (1.9 times income)
- Median household income: $61,667
- Total population: 6,529
- Largest lake: North Fork Buffalo Creek Reservoir
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2NY4gm_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=2NY4gm_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Melissa Kopka / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Median home value: $100,200 (1.9 times income)
- Median household income: $52,822
- Total population: 2,729
- Largest lake: Keith Sebelius Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1VfJ9x_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1VfJ9x_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: SevenMaps / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $144,800 (1.9 times income)
- Median household income: $76,484
- Total population: 5,018
- Largest lake: Moss Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1MOIAj_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1MOIAj_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: AustralianCamera / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $84,500 (1.9 times income)
- Median household income: $44,723
- Total population: 6,978
- Largest lake: Broad Pond
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=11EEH1_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=11EEH1_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: hstiver / iStock via Getty Images
- Median home value: $94,600 (1.9 times income)
- Median household income: $50,738
- Total population: 4,562
- Largest lake: Lake Milton
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2FApiS_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=2FApiS_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: RyanJLane / E+ via Getty Images
- Median home value: $127,500 (1.9 times income)
- Median household income: $68,631
- Total population: 2,986
- Largest lake: Chautauqua Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0L89NF_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=0L89NF_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: SevenMaps / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $92,100 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $49,973
- Total population: 3,192
- Largest lake: Dairyland Reservoir
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2t6GE2_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=2t6GE2_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: mobili / Flickr
- Median home value: $100,600 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $55,000
- Total population: 2,744
- Largest lake: Marion Reservoir
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2cgE9q_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=2cgE9q_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: pasa / Flickr
- Median home value: $84,700 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $46,468
- Total population: 12,096
- Largest lake: Centralia Reservoir
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3tKXwo_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=3tKXwo_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Emmy C / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $96,000 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $52,779
- Total population: 2,804
- Largest lake: Raquette Pond
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2ZhhSi_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=2ZhhSi_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
- Median home value: $107,000 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $59,167
- Total population: 2,872
- Largest lake: Valley Acres Reservoir
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3TIQxC_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=3TIQxC_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Westlee Jay Appleton / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $90,400 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $50,197
- Total population: 5,129
- Largest lake: Brady Reservoir
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1d47yE_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1d47yE_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Tverdokhlib / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $172,200 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $95,688
- Total population: 9,461
- Largest lake: Sabine Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4FqAGh_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=4FqAGh_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: SevenMaps / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $105,800 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $59,106
- Total population: 5,127
- Largest lake: Antoine Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=45bJnv_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=45bJnv_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Brandonrush / Wikimedia Commons
- Median home value: $92,400 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $51,643
- Total population: 2,865
- Largest lake: Lake Atkins
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4Fe6IX_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=4Fe6IX_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: SevenMaps / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $171,300 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $95,950
- Total population: 2,939
- Largest lake: Fox Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0afqu5_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=0afqu5_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Jon Kraft / iStock via Getty Images
- Median home value: $177,600 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $99,798
- Total population: 6,255
- Largest lake: Lake Decatur
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3o1m7f_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=3o1m7f_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: omersukrugoksu / Getty Images
- Median home value: $91,000 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $51,243
- Total population: 11,381
- Largest lake: Neatahwanta Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1ngsez_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1ngsez_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: 25or6to4 / Wikimedia Commons
- Median home value: $85,100 (1.8 times income)
- Median household income: $48,514
- Total population: 8,556
- Largest lake: Elk City Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0En8aF_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=0En8aF_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
- Median home value: $93,300 (1.7 times income)
- Median household income: $55,207
- Total population: 6,132
- Largest lake: De Queen Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4VaiGC_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=4VaiGC_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: SevenMaps / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $81,200 (1.7 times income)
- Median household income: $48,784
- Total population: 6,999
- Largest lake: Rend Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2hZivX_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=2hZivX_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: The Bohemian Lens / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $116,700 (1.7 times income)
- Median household income: $70,160
- Total population: 2,977
- Largest lake: Big Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ivm5C_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=3ivm5C_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- Median home value: $124,500 (1.7 times income)
- Median household income: $75,315
- Total population: 3,160
- Largest lake: Meander Creek Reservoir
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1yFUfn_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1yFUfn_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: E.N. May / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $83,800 (1.6 times income)
- Median household income: $50,958
- Total population: 4,695
- Largest lake: Peoria Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1RW3fI_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1RW3fI_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: StockPhotoAstur / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $95,600 (1.6 times income)
- Median household income: $58,681
- Total population: 27,026
- Largest lake: Horseshoe Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0XZham_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=0XZham_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: PBFloyd / iStock via Getty Images
- Median home value: $109,800 (1.5 times income)
- Median household income: $71,000
- Total population: 3,261
- Largest lake: Lake Robinson
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0e2baC_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=0e2baC_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
- Median home value: $98,200 (1.5 times income)
- Median household income: $63,917
- Total population: 4,408
- Largest lake: Lake Shelbyville
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3qujmF_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=3qujmF_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: SevenMaps / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $106,400 (1.5 times income)
- Median household income: $69,824
- Total population: 5,825
- Largest lake: Onondaga Lake
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2NVSvh_0uWJTKkf00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=2NVSvh_0uWJTKkf00)
Source: Feng Cheng / Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $127,700 (1.2 times income)
- Median household income: $103,363
- Total population: 2,506
- Largest lake: Beresford Lake
The post You Can Buy a House in This Beautiful Lake Town for $127,000 appeared first on 24/7 Tempo .
Comments / 0