BEACH living may be more affordable than you think, the key is where you look.
While living near the ocean may seem like a luxury solely for elites, some cities offer much more reasonable prices.
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Gone are the days when buyers strictly select Malibu or the Hamptons as the only option.
Beach cities are popping up in places you have likely haven’t heard of offering the coveted coastal living lifestyle.
In another installment of our series, Let’s Get Real, The US Sun spoke with Evan Wyloge, data journalist at Realtor.com, to point us to the sand.
Beach towns can offer a range of qualities for nearly everyone.
Buyers can find sleepy cities perfect for those who want a slower pace, or sandy towns filled with bars and loud music.
Not only can the atmosphere change, the actual environment also differs.
Some beaches are sandy and close to the water while others are rocky and may have some distance.
Either way, living at the beach can be for many ways of life – but more importantly, affordable.
Evan did the research for you, finding the 10 US towns with the cheapest homes near the water by compiling data.
“I aggregated all of the MLS listings within one mile of a beach, by city, to calculate the median price and price per square foot for those areas,” Evan told The US Sun.
Below we’ve rounded up the top five most affordable starting with Mississippi.
1. GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI
Gulfport is located in Mississippi and offers nearly 26 miles of beach on the Gulf of Mexico.
Evan gave this the top spot after calculating that the median price of a house within one mile of a beach is $224,900.
The other factor that made this town number one was that the median price per square foot within one mile of a beach is $144.
On top of being affordable for the amount of space you get, the area also offers lots of shopping centers, casinos, sailing, and water-skiing.
2. NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA
Right on the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula, you’ll find the quaint Newport News.
Nearly 25 miles from Jamestown, this was actually one of the first settlements in all of North America, per Evan’s research.
This beach town is great for the outdoorsy type as it has fishing, boating and fine dining.
Evan found that you can even watch Civil War reenactments as the town is filled with a rich history.
He gave this the second spot after finding that the median price within one mile of a beach is $200,000.
As usual, the factor he calculated was that the median price per square foot within one mile of a beach was $150.
3. NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT
While you may not think Connecticut would make the top of the list, Evan found New London was quite affordable.
Residents are privy to a couple of great public beaches in a state like Ocean Beach Park.
This public beach is right on the Long Island Sound near the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
It’s known for all types of fun beachgoers and for the family.
You can expect to see a miles-long boardwalk, entertainment, a mini golf course, and much more.
Plus, during the summer, the beach provides concerts and free movies for guests.
When it comes down to the money, Evan found the median price within one mile of a beach was $257,000 while the median price per square foot within one mile of a beach was $175.
4. GRAND ISLE, LOUISIANA
Coming in at number four is the quaint beach town of Grand Isle, in Louisiana.
The city has about 1,000 official residents making it definitely one of the smallest, most laid back towns.
Folks appreciate this town for its hiking trails, campgrounds, and fishing pier where many go deep-sea, saltwater fishing in the park.
Evan found that the median price within one mile of a beach was $309,500 while the median price per square foot within one mile of a beach was $190.
5. CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
And taking the number five spot for the most affordable and largest beach town in America is Corpus Christi, Texas.
Right on the Gulf of Mexico, Evan recorded about 320,000 residents enjoying nearly 192 square miles of shoreline.
Since it spans such a large area, beachgoers may visit places like North Beach, McGee Beach, or head to Padre Island.
This is a long barrier island spanning much of Texas’ Gulf of Mexico coastline.
During his research, Evan found that the median price within one mile of a beach is $289,948 and the median price per square foot within one mile of a beach is $206.
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