And last year was already nuts! Along the 185-mile shoreline, you'll find patches of crystal clear water. The region boasts seven lakes, with the three largest natural bodies of water located in the town proper: Big Spirit Lake, West Okoboji Lake, and East Okoboji Lake. Those lucky enough to see a sunset at Lake Kampeska could understand how wildlife artist Terry Redlin was inspired by his surroundings in Watertown. Marble Falls in the Highland Lakes Region is becoming one of the best-known tourist destinations in the central part of the state. It sits on 1.5 acres across from Templar State Park on Big Spirit Lake. Clermont Chain of Lakes is a system of 11 lakes in Florida, but the historic village of Clermont is specifically nestled on Lake Minneola. With pandemic restrictions easing upand American life returning to something akin to normallocking in a home on the water is feeling like less of an imperative to some would-be buyers. The word is getting out. And isn't that what makes the best lake towns shine? Sailing, fishing and kayaking are also popular pursuits. Supported by natural spring and rain water, White Lake is a 1,200-acre body of water in North Carolina, and the town welcomes 200,000 tourists each summer. Sandusky, OH. You're sure to catch your fix of small-town charm and slow country living in this Alabama town. Marquette, Michigan. And if Dolly has ever spent time here, she didnt leave much of a trace. 9 Things Youd Better Consider First, Surf and Save? Those who want to be on one of the larger bodies of water like East Okoboji Lake should expect to pay more, such as this five-bedroom on the market for $289,000. Sara Ventiera is a journalist based in New York City and Los Angeles. 2019 Best Retirement Lakes Lake Greenwood in Lake Greenwood State Park, located right outside the towns of Ninety Six (yes, real name) and Greenwood, offers 11,400-acres of floating fun. For those looking for a property as close to the water as possible, there are options. Bryson City. But in todays overheated housing market, is the concept of owning your own waterfront home a punishing fantasy or an achievable reality? Just a three-hour drive east of Seattle, this high desert town is the sunny escape from the rain and clouds of the coastal Pacific Northwest. Single-family homes on the water start in the high $300,000s to low $400,000 range, such as this four-bedroom on 2.31 acres listed at $410,000 or this three-bedroom on the market for $399,000. Come for the entire summer, or just for the annual White Lake Water Festival traditionally held in May. Its possible to get a house in this area for just over $100,000, such as this cute three-bedroomasking $115,000. The 2019 Best Retirement Lake designation goes to this community for its not one, but two lakes. This list could include 10 from along the state's 3,300 miles of shoreline and be very . Median home list price: $248,000. If you have to socially distance or can work from home, just move to the lake full time.. Catering to guests from around the world, this working dude ranch offers guided trail rides, horseback riding lessons, stocked fishing ponds, and an all-inclusive resort experience. Theres also this quirky three-bedroom within walking distance to Main Street for $350,000. Long-time locals and even some visitors are convinced that there's something in the water in this lake town. William Hereford. Lake Sara has a bit of everything. Located at the southern edge of Lake Keowee and just a short drive from Lake Hartwell, Seneca is a great small town for retirement. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia, Abingdon is one of those small towns in the south that is known for its combination of artsy vibes and historic charm. 24. 10: Jordan Lake, average home listing $340,734. The top tourist attractions are the International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center. Meanwhile, downtown is filled with antiques stores, restaurants, and small boutiques. Summer and fall in the South Lake Tahoe area is synonymous with boat rentals, hiking Rubicon Trail for views of the lake, dining al fresco at Boathouse on the Pier, and sunsets savored with a bottle of wine. Homes: $165K - $1.5M Lots: $10K - $300K. Near Klamath Falls. The area surrounding the lake is made up of mostly private homes, but there are several marinas where visitors can rent or launch a boat onto the lakes clear waters. Thats a whole lot of space for you to lie out, water-ski, fish, kayak, or do whatever other water-based activity you care to dream up. Here is a lake town that visitors and residents can enjoy throughout all four seasons. But its not just the water that makes the area so special and desirable. Fun fact: hundreds of Bigfoot sightings have been reported on the Texas side of Caddo Lake since 1965. This makes it and the nearby town of Effingham a beloved getaway for families from nearby St. Louis, a drive of about an hour-and-a-half away. The lake is named after the town of Burton which is now situated at the bottom of the lake. To help narrow down that search, one website has chosen three cities in North Carolina as some of the best lake towns in the country to live in. Treptow notes that the town has seen an uptick in the number of visitors to the area, as well as folks who have decided to turn their lake homes into their permanent homes. Sandusky, OH, was ranked the most affordable lake town in 2021 by Realtor.com . The pinnacle of Montana lake culture is spending the summer months on Flathead Lake. Crestline, California. Port Aransas is a town close to Corpus Christi making it an easy day trip from the bigger city. Two years ago, USA Today named it the best coastal town in America. The area offers hiking, skiing and gambling at the casinos. Chattanooga, Tennessee. They're not just waterfront havens where you can rent a boat for the day or go stand-up paddle boarding, they're also destinations with exciting restaurants, hotels, shopping, and plenty of non-water-based activities. Surprisingly, they're not talking about the lake wateralthough there's plenty of enjoyment to be had there. We are right between Minneapolis and Chicago, and its a relatively quick trip on the interstate for people from those regions to come and vacation, says one real estate agent, Kirkland Kettleson of Century 21 Affiliated. Buyers can find lakeview condos starting in the $200,000 range, such as this three-bedroom listed at $298,000 a bit farther from town. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Venture into Ithaca, New York for dinner at Maxie's Supper Club, visit Heart & Hands Wine Company in nearby Union Springs, and of course, stay at Inns of Aurora for a luxurious lakeside escape at one of their five beautifully curated inns. Winsted, Connecticut is a picturesque community is home to Highland Lake, one of the largest lakes in Connecticut and a popular spot for residents to beat the summer heat. LindaZ74 / Shutterstock. The International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center are probably the most happening spots in town. Statesboro's place among America's cheapest small towns is largely due to housing costs, which are 32% lower compared with the national average. $376,111. Here buyers can find a lake home for under $200,000, if they are willing to make some renovations, such as this $175,000 four-bedroom across the street from the beach. The community is nestled between the southern shores of the lake and the foothills of the Coeur d'Alene Mountains. And while it is possible to find a single-family home on the water that needs a bit of love for under $200,000, the pickings at that price point are slim. House hunters who want easy access to entertainment after paddleboarding, kayaking, or boating across 43,000 acres of water will appreciate one of the many waterfront homes on Table Rock Lake. Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Flagstaff, Arizona. This city also ranks just outside of the top 10, with the 13 th-most Even though it has dropped a couple of spots, Sandusky remains a popular vacation spot for Midwesterners looking for lake living at affordable prices. Clear Lake, South Dakota, is proud of its strong, traditional values. With a name like Sulphur, its no surprise that the area is famous for its mineral springs. Daniel has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota, with a concentration in Housing and Community . Just a three-hour drive, the idyllic glacial valley, located across the Cascade Range in the high desert, centers on the crystal-clear waters of Lake Chelan. The bucolic town, tucked between Pelican Lake and Lake Kampeska, offers a plethora of water sports like canoeing and water skiing. Average Home Cost: $338,035. Alabama's Lake Town lives up to its moniker by offering plenty of activities on and off the water. Prices generally range from $400,000 to . Eureka, California. The 0.67-acre lot is one of the last waterfront building sites in the village of Lake Placid and comes with 295 feet of sandy waterfront. Maya Kachroo-Levine is the luxury and experiences editor at. Clemson, with the cultural draws of the university and the South Carolina Botanical Garden is just a stone's throw across the water. The city sits about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. The lakes crystal-clear waters are the ideal spot for fishing, water-skiing, and swimming. But buyers willing to share rights could find a home starting in the $300,000 range, like this three-bedroom log cabin with a deeded dock on private Friends Lake listed at $339,000. The outdoor offeringswhich often include boating, fishing, picnicking, hiking, golfing, and lounging on the shoresare great ways to spend newly free hours during the weekdays and weekends. Your life in Wolfeboro will be filled with sunset swims at Brewster Beach, ice cream cones at Wolfeboro Dockside Grille & Dairy Bar, and beers at Lone Wolfe Brewing Company. The 15 Best Resorts in the Continental U.S. How to Plan the Perfect Adirondacks Vacation in Any Season Charming Towns and Gorgeous Hikes Included. Located in Pennsylvanias Poconos Mountain range, Gouldsboro is a close weekend trip for New Yorkers and New Jerseyians. She writes about food, travel, and real estate for Zagat, FoodNetwork.com, BBC Travel, and more. Buyers at one of these two lakes in the Branson, MO area, can find their dream home for a median price of 205,900. Known as a major vacation destination, Lake Ariel is surrounded by the gently rolling hills of the Poconos Mountains. The lakes in the region include Osceola, Maitland (pictured), Minnehaha, Virginia, and Mizell, and those who visit and live in Winter Park can enjoy them all. Thats where the data team at Realtor.com comes in. These towns are not only right on the waterfront of the country's clearest and most sought-after lakes - they have bustling town centers and lively culture within. Although Lake Placid boasts some impressive multimillion-dollar homes on the water, like this $11 million seven-bedroom estate, folks without trust funds can get into the housing market, too. three-bedroom, two-bathroom lakeside abode, The 10 Most Affordable Places To Buy A Vacation Home, How to Buy a Second Home (Hint: It Wont Be Like Your First), Thinking of Buying a Lakeside Home? Realtor.com has rounded up its list of the most affordable lake towns where you can find a home that is either directly on a lake or close enough to get a great view. It's the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi - boasting 200 square miles of water. Glen Arbor is nestled between Lake Michigans Sleeping Bear Bay and the Glen Lakes. The median home value in Deerfield Beach has increased by 7.7% in the last year to $182,300, making it one of the most affordable coastal towns to buy a home in Florida. Big Bear is less of a hotel town - the name of the game here is renting a house on the water and spending your days fishing, hiking, swimming, and mountain biking. The famously human-made lake is known for speed boating and waterfront resorts, but Osage Beach claims 420 acres of shorefront that's particularly inviting for families keen on a beach vacation. Best Lake Towns To Retire To in the South, 12 Lesser-Known Southern Destinations Our Editors Can't Wait To Visit In 2023, The Best Mother-Daughter Vacations to Take This Summer, 10 Prettiest Places for Fall Foliage in Tennessee, Pass Christian Is the Mississippi Beach Town You've Probably Never Heard Of, Affordable Florida Beach Towns Perfect For Your Next Vacation, 18 Perfect Fall Girlfriend Getaways To Plan Immediately. Yup. Can it be? RETIRE NEAR THE WATER. 23. #13. Other towns in the area include Lakeland, Lakeview, Lakeside, Osage Beach, Sunrise Beach, and others. Scott. Cost of living . From Turnip Greens Country Market, where you'll find a farmer's market as well a range of boutique stores, to Vernon Square, with historic sites and trails, Darien is an ideal destination for a low key family getaway. And with the cool waterfront breezes, fishing and kayaking on demand, early evening tequila on the dock, and a generally life-affirming vibe beckoning, who are we to argue with that logic? The Corpus Christi Bay area sits behind the Padre and Mustang islands. Jordan Lake is about 25 miles north of Montgomery in Elmore County with almost a dozen homes between $300,000 and $400,000. You have the best of land and sea activities here, from hiking trails and wildlife spotting opportunities to boating and swimming along 42 miles of shoreline. 9. Check out five lake areas with lake homes listings that have been included in the top 10 most affordable lake areas in the country. Rocky River, Ohio. Plan a visit. But family members who arent into waiting hours (or what can feel like hours) for fish to bite have plenty of other entertainment options throughout the year as well, from wakeboarding and tubing on the water to minigolf and go-karts off it. Those looking to move to Cheboygan are finding plenty of affordable homes . They say a rainy day on the lake is better than a sunny day in the city. You'll also find the town of Bigfork, Montana, which has old Western resort town energy, not dissimilar to the ski towns you'd find in Colorado mining country. If Queen Dolly Partons Stampede and live country music shows arent your thing, check out the Titanic Museum, with 400 pre-Discovery artifacts spread across 20 gallerieswhich can be enjoyed in the blissful A/C. ( (Tony Franzel for Realtor.com)) 1. 9 Things Youd Better Consider First. In the past, many people have viewed buying a vacation home as a combination of a family amenity and a revenue opportunity, said Wedgeworth. More than 125 homes and a projected fifty businesses moved to higher ground, the . 10 of the Best Small Towns on the East Coast, 11 Most Beautiful Lakes in the United States, This Is the Largest Alpine Lake in North America and It's Perfect for Visiting Year-round, 8 Amazing California Road Trips That Take You From Big Sur to the Sierras, These Are the Best Small Towns in the South, 50 Best Romantic Getaways for a Couples Trip, 34 Last-minute Beach Trips to Extend Your Summer, 12 Best Washington State Parks for Camping. Find a warm welcome in LaGrange, a cozy West Georgia town located on West Point Lake. What do Frank Lloyd Wright, shellfish, and the Tennessee River all have in common? Lake of the Ozarks State Park is the largest state park in Missouri. Buyers on a budget, who dont mind roughing it a bit, can check out this small cabin on Pennock Island for just $79,000. Watch: Home Buying Update: Where to Aim Highand Bid Higher. The town of Lake Placid, set on the banks of, you guessed it, Lake Placid, is probably best known as the home of the 1980 (and 1932!) Methodology: GOBankingRates found 25 affordable waterfront cities by evaluating 112 of the United . According to Time and Money magazines, Murfreesboro is one of the top 20 places to live in the US. As its nickname suggests, the lake is an immensely popular destination year-round for fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities. Pronounced "Bowfort" (not "Bewfert" like its South Carolina namesake), this colonial-era village embraces its pirate history. Estes Park, CO. 3.8%. Lake Tahoe, California. The house, which sits on nearly a quarter-acre, offers views of Lake Kampeska from the deck. Virginia's only lakeside town is located on Kerr Lake and has become a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, who enjoy the boating, fishing, swimming, camping, and hiking opportunities at Occoneechee State Park. However, those who want a waterfront view should expect to spend $400,000 and up, such as this lakefront two-bedroom with a rooftop deck listed for $499,999. Striking views, a gorgeous landscape, stunning lakes, and affordable housing? To come up with our list of the nations most affordable lake towns, we looked at more than 11,000 towns with or on lakes. Set your sights on Lakeway, Texas, which is located in the Hill Country near Lake Travis, and you'll have bountiful opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking in the picturesque landscape of the sunny Lone Star State. Homes can vary widely in price: A single-family fixer-upper on the water can go for around $250,000 or into the millions.. Tucked into Chequamegon Bay on the south shore of Lake Superior, Ashland is rich with local history, arts and culture, and natural beauty. Bayview is right on the water (literally), giving it a northwestern island feel, and it is home to the 4,000-acre Farragut State Park. Neighboring Muscle Shoals has a deep music history. This five-bedroom, two-bedroom house is listed for $325,000. Watch: Relax for Less: The 10 Most Affordable U.S. Beach Towns for Homebuyers. Eureka Springs is situated near several bodies of water, including Lake Leatherwood in the city limits and the enormous nearby Beaver Lake, as well as Table Rock Lake, which is located just across the Missouri border. People are moving back to the area, either after retirement or because they can work from their lake cottage, she says. This rural Wisconsin getaway attracts water lovers from across the upper Midwest with its two local rivers, popular manmade Lake Delton and around a dozen other bodies of water with nice homes set right on the shoreline. Theres also the noteworthy shops and restaurants located in the towns eight-block business district, which happens to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Set on the banks of Lake Erie, the popular vacation destination offers a revitalized downtown with good shopping and dining. Minocqua, Wisconsin. After spending the day on Lake Norman, North Carolina's largest man-made lake, pop into any of the locally owned shops for a handmade souvenir. Callawassie Island, located in the heart of the Lowcountry, is a private, gated island community offering world-class Tom Fazio golf and a full complement of amenities including a tennis center, clubhouse, pools, fitness center, and River Club. There has been a steady uptick in the number of people seeking out homes in lake towns over the past few years, says Glenn S. Phillips, CEO of Lake Homes Realty. The charming red-brick downtown is filled with fun shops and restaurants. Source: ESB Professional / Shutterstock. Beaufort, North Carolina, one of the Southeast's oldest and most charming beach towns, is at the southern tip of North Carolina's Crystal Coast. Even though only 120 people live here full-time, in the summer the Canadian border town attracts hundreds to the resorts and campsites near the shores of the 3,088-acre lake. Sandusky has been getting a lot of press over the past few years. The median listing price in 2020 was a very affordable $107,792. Aurora, New York. Vermilion has long been one of the most beloved beach towns on the south shore of Lake Erie. For anyone who wants some waterfront privacy, this certainly is the place. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Located about 85 miles outside of Atlanta, Greensboro is situated on Lake Oconee, a 19,000-acre lake that's also a popular destination for golfing, boating, and fishing. On Lake Winnipesaukee, Wolfeboro is fast becoming the best lake town in the Northeast. Every outdoor activity you can imagineswimming, hiking, rock climbing, golfing, canoeing, fishing, water skiing, and moreis possible at Lake Lure, and you'll still find plenty of time for relaxation once the sun sinks behind Chimney Rock each evening. But beyond this, Abingdon has great outdoor recreation because it is so close to the Blue Ridge Mountains. It just depends on what youre looking for, Schaben says. The first is its sheer size. * The average of monthly, median list prices for all homes in the city (not just lake houses) from January 2022 through May 2022, using Realtor.com data. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. The beauty of Aurora, apart from the gorgeous sunsets on Cayuga Lake, is that you have culture, incredible food and wine, and water activities at your fingertips. Although some of these homes are pricier than many homes across the country, they offer the chance to get a waterfront property, and with hurricane season upon us, perhaps a safer location than an oceanfront home. They can play on the lake, ride horses, or follow off-road Jeep trails without losing access to high-speed internet and other city amenities.