Although living in a major city comes with plenty of compelling perks, the siren call of a small town is hard to ignore. The proof is in the pudding: The pandemic and remote work led to cramped apartments in urban settings being traded in for roomy homes with coastal backdrops. And despite housing prices being on the up and up around the country, it’s not too late to land your own slice of beachy bliss.
Now, these budget-friendly prices may not necessarily extend to popular hubs like Miami, San Francisco, and the Hamptons, but less-crowded beach access is better beach access in our minds. We scrolled through every Millennial’s favorite time-suck (aka Zillow) to find out which US beach towns have some of the lowest property prices right now. Here are the 11 best shorefront locations where you can land a dreamy and affordable house by the water and sand.
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Average home price: $214, 670
Boasting rocky alcoves and sandy shores, easy accessibility to the Big Apple, and iconic boardwalks straight out of the movies, it’s the Jersey Shore or bust. Of the area’s oceanfront communities, Atlantic City’s affordability stands out. Known for its gambling reputation, courtesy of the city’s nine casinos, there’s plenty of chances to play the odds and, with some luck, win big. The city is also adept at offering a unique mash-up of experiences: you can ride a mechanical bull in the Western-themed casino then, 15 minutes later, down caviar and oysters inside a swanky restaurant. The AC boardwalk is probably the most classic go-to with spots to grab salt water taffy, spiked frozen bevs, and henna tattoos, before taking a spin on the ferris wheel or Slingshot within the Steel Pier amusem*nt park. Lowkey favorite eateries include White House Subs (for, you guessed it, huge subs) and Gilchrist’s Restaurant (for fruit-laden hotcakes).
Coos Bay, Oregon
Average home price: $329,533
While North Coast Oregon towns like Cannon Beach tend to steal the spotlight, some of the state’s most scenic shoreline sits farther south in Coos Bay. The highlight is Sunset Bay State Park, surrounded by majestic cliffs, where miles of hiking trails take you to breathtaking vistas overlooking the secluded cove and Pacific Ocean beyond. Coos Bay also straddles the southern border of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, where you’ll find impressive natural beauty—including sand dunes towering more than 500 feet tall. As for that other thing Oregon is best known for (beer), head into town for 7 Devils Brewing, whose nutty Lighthouse Session Pale Ale is as well-paired with a sunny summer day as it is a brutal winter windstorm.
Crescent City, California
Average home price: $361,327
This Del Norte County hideaway is as sleepy and picturesque as they come. Think soaring redwoods, vintage lighthouses, scenic byways, and windswept shorelines as far as the eye can see. It’s nothing short of a surfer’s paradise and families love the wide open spaces plus upbeat attractions like Ocean World, an aquarium stocked with tank after tank of sharks, seals, rays, sea lions, and more. A tiny regional airport provides easy access in case you get sick of Pebble Beach’s serene network of coves or Kellogg Beach’s driftwood-laden expanse (as if), while the adorable downtown is lined with just the right amount of shops, bars, and restaurants to keep you busy (consider SeaQuake Brewing and Paragon Coffeehouse your new locals). Relocate here and expect to spend the rest of your days basking in the ocean breeze, waving at your neighbors, and tending your native plant garden.
Daytona Beach, Florida
Average home price: $267,165
Though a home by the Great American Race costs nearly twice what it might have five years ago, compared to a lot of Florida, Daytona Beach is still pretty darn cheap. That means you'll have plenty of money left to put towards that giant four-wheel-drive vehicle needed to cruise along one of the only drive-on beaches in the country. Rest assured that the city is slowly moving away from its spring break past, so you won’t have to deal with as many college students invading the shores each March. Plus, with Orlando just a short jaunt away, Daytona offers the perfect place for a beach escape with easy access to big-city amenities.
Freeport, Texas
Average home price: $138,822
It might be easy to overlook this little town of about 11,000, which sits an hour from Houston and 45 minutes from Galveston. But if you’re down to spend your days swimming, fishing, and diving the northernmost coral reefs in the United States, Freeport might be the place for you. The town is best known as the gateway to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, which claims the best reef diving along the Gulf Coast. You’ll also have the expansive Bryan Beach to yourself, plus plenty of opportunities for deep-sea fishing. It’s a bit like the Florida Keys, right at the tip of Texas—so if you don’t mind a little humidity, this just might be your ticket to paradise.
Hampton, Virginia
Average home price: $267,890
Sandwiched between the Chesapeake Bay and Hampton Roads Harbor, this coastal Virginia hideaway is bursting with history. Not only was it the first continuously English-speaking settlement in the states (yes, that amount of history), it also gave rise to the country’s first-ever free public education system, and served as the training ground for NASA’s very first astronauts. Local monument Fort Monroe also helped the town play a huge role in the Civil War. And, of course, the beach. It’s swell, with sandy public access points scattered along the sloping Chesapeake and culminating in the pristine Grandview Nature Reserve to the north. Between exploring the harbor on the 65-foot Miss Hampton II, fishing off the Downtown Hampton Public Pier, and lazy waterfront hangs, come for the culture, stay for the vibes (and the refreshingly affordable real estate).
Michigan City, Indiana
Average home price: $174,055
The Midwest has no coastline, you say? Think again, says this northern Indiana town perched on the banks of Lake Michigan just a stone’s throw from the always-epic Indiana Dunes National Park. It might be fresh water we’re talking about, but it has tides, waves, and sand—and, most importantly, not a single shark. It’s also got breezy lakefront restaurants, a handful of serious breweries (not to mention a pretty legit winery), a top-notch outlet mall, a full-on casino, sprawling botanical gardens, and crowd-pleasing annual events like the Great Lakes Grand Prix and the Lubeznik Arts Festival. All that plus dirt-cheap home prices, whether you’re in the market for a move or simply looking for a getaway plan that won’t break the bank. And if you’re itching for a little city-slicking, Chicago is only an hour’s drive down the road. Also, did we mention the whole zero sharks thing?
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Average home price: $308,123
Myrtle Beach has a lingering reputation as a kitschy, hectic spring break spot—and sure, in March you’ll find a college kid or two loitering on the boardwalk and taking one too many turns on the SkyWheel. But this city on the Grand Strand has a far more slow-paced, family-friendly vibe than people give it credit for. Along the 60-mile shoreline, you’ll find tons of seafood joints, learn how to shag dance at Fat Harold’s Beach Club, and ditch the tourists in idyllic neighborhoods like Cherry Grove in North Myrtle. One of the country’s most impressive sculpture gardens lies a few miles down the road at Brookgreen, and you can get your fill of the great outdoors by kayaking through mangroves and cypress swamps along the Waccamaw River.
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Average home price: $260,966
This artsy, quintessentially Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast town could be your forever beach oasis. Step out of your charmingly affordable cottage and into the colorful, historic downtown lined with towering live oaks, artist studios, and locally driven restaurants. There's no shortage of funky bars on Government Street, where live music is the norm every weekend. Closer to the coast, you're a short boat ride from the turquoise waters of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, which adds more fuel to why this is one of the very best beach towns in America.
Swansboro, North Carolina
Average home price: $341,017
North Carolina is chock-full of powdery, white-sand beaches, but only in Swansboro can you watch Osprey landings while you tan. The former East Coast shipbuilding and fishing hub, located about an hour and a half up the coast from Wilmington, shares a border with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Hammocks Beach State Park, a patch of oceanfront that laps up against a host of gorgeous beaches only reachable by boat, might be the area’s greatest hidden gem. Weekend getaways include quick jaunts to the Outer Banks or sleepy islands like Ocraco*ke. The town itself features a main street lined with boutiques and cafes, but for a good spot to mull over your permanent move, head to Bake, Bottle and Brew for craft beer, good books, and waterfront views.
Westport, Washington
Average home price: $309,719
With an average home price of $563,764 statewide—that’s nearly 2% higher than last year—finding a place to lie your head in the Evergreen State isn’t an inexpensive venture. And it’s even pricier along the shoreline, where waves crash rhythmically against the cliffs, the seafood is fresher than fresh, and the heavy sea air will surely cure whatever ails you. That’s why Westport, stashed along Grays Harbor about two hours southwest of tech-crazed Seattle, is your best bet if you’re hoping to pry a little sun and surf (yes, actual surf) out of this notoriously gloomy part of the country. Cast a line, drop a crab pot, or embark on a whale-watching expedition in the Marina District, walk Fido down one of the many dog-friendly beaches, then catch the sunset over oysters and hand-breaded halibut at a local fish shack. Now that’s living.
Editor’s Note: To ensure the quality and relevance of our content, Thrillist editors will regularly refresh this article and others to meet our editorial standards.
Izzy Baskette is the New York City Staff Writer for Thrillist. Talk to her at izzy.baskette@voxmedia.com or find her on Instagram.
Matt Meltzer is a contributing writer for Thrillist. Follow him on Instagram.
Meredith Heilis the former editorial director of Thrillist Travel.
