We also factored in the number of restaurants, bars, and entertainment establishments per capita to ensure there was more to do in these places than just lounge by the water. Condos on Lake Delton start in the low $100,000s, like this sweet two-bedroom asking $154,900. 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. Its a way to feel secure about making payment, so they can float it if the world turns upside down, he says. Vergennes and the area bordering Lake Champlain have an old-world New England feel - which stands to reason, as Vergennes was founded in 1788. In addition to lakeside living, residents also take advantage of the prime fishing, picnic, and camping spots, and a scenic paved trail for bikes and pedestrians that winds through the town and around Lake Kampeska. Whether you explore its canal-linked lakes via paddle board or a water boat cruise, you'll find plenty of lakeside dining with fresh afternoon catches along the way. A leg of the great Cumberland Trail is accessible at the north end of LaFollette. Boone, North Carolina. But this year looks a bit different. 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. 12 Cheapest Small Towns in America | Kiplinger 10. Traveling with kids or an inner child at heart? The pinnacle of Montana lake culture is spending the summer months on Flathead Lake. Find a warm welcome in LaGrange, a cozy West Georgia town located on West Point Lake. The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Louisiana For 2022 - HomeSnacks For more places to explore, check out The South's Greatest Lakes and The South's Best Small Towns. Asheville, North Carolina. 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. The 10 Most Affordable Lake Towns in America, 2022 Edition - realtor.com Stay at Lakeside Inn, Florida's oldest continuously operating hotel, and get your fill of delicious Florida cuisine, offered by chef Norman Van Aken at his restaurant 1921. With the campsites, the natural spring water, the scenic views around the park, and the lake, its just so calming and relaxing, says Misty Treptow, executive director of the Sulphur Chamber of Commerce. It just depends on what youre looking for, Schaben says. The top 10 most affordable lakes for lakefront homes in Michigan are listed below, with the most affordable lake at No. For car buffs, the Okoboji Classic Cars Museum is a must-see. Waterfront condos start in the mid $300,000s, like this one-bedroom listed at $349,000. Can it be? When looking for a place to retire, lake towns make a strong case. Vermilion has long been one of the most beloved beach towns on the south shore of Lake Erie. A majority of the population is seasonal. Its very close to pricier Lake George as well as Gore Mountain Ski Resort. The 25 Best Places to Live in the South - US News & World Report At The Soda Shop, centrally located on one of Davidson's main drags, you'll find vintage sips and classic comfort food any time of the day. Cayuga Lake is known for its stunning wine trail and Aurora, nestled right on the shores of Cayuga, is in close proximity to wineries along the lake as well as wineries lining the adjacent Seneca Lake. Little wonder Lake Chelan is such a popular vacation destination for 12 to 14 weeks per year. Credit: John Noltner. Enjoy Greensboro's historic charm: Main Street bustles with locally owned businesses and eateries, and Lake Oconee is a destination for water activities. Even in the gated community, affordable homes can still be found. Right near the Canadian border, way up north in Minnesota, secluded Ely offers acres upon acres of pristine lakes and unspoiled forests set on a stunning, glacier-carved landscape. Anglers from all over the Midwest flock to this rural destination for the awesome catch on manmade Lake Delton, two local rivers, and other, smaller bodies of water that are surrounded with lovely and affordable homes all along their shorelines. Next: 25. Chelan offers housing options at a wide range of price points. And with inflation rising, stock and cryptocurrency markets taking a beating, and fears of another recession mounting, plenty of well-off Americans are holding off on buying yet another home. 10 Surprisingly Affordable Lake Towns To Own Property in Across the US Take a stroll through this town, and you'll understand why it's a popular destination. A majority of buyers use their homes here partly as vacation rentals, says Justin Skaar, owner of Coldwell Banker Lake Chelan. Bransons usually-packed Silver Dollar City theme park, Dolly Partons Stampede and live country music shows may not be nearly as appealing during the pandemic as they have been in summers past, but theres plenty of opportunity to distance from strangers across the areas many lakes. The small lakes around Chestertown have been booming with second home buyers this year, who make up about 80% of the real estate market. Ogden, Utah. Homes, Townhomes, Condos: $139.9K - $2.8M Lots: $20K - $595K. Lake Wylie- South Carolina/North Carolina. However, for those who are willing to rent out their vacation homes, there is a greater demand for such getaways, particularly if they are within driving distance of a larger metro.. Quincy is an absolute must-see when in Northern California and is considered one of the most affordable towns near Lake Tahoe. Top 10 Cheapest Beach Towns in the US.Most people dream about buying a home near or on the beach. Last on our list of the best lakes in Georgia is the "Big Bass Capital of the World." Walter F. George Lake extends 85 miles along the Chattahoochee River and is formed by the Walter F. George Lock and Dam. The house, which sits on nearly a quarter-acre, offers views of Lake Kampeska from the deck. You can find traces of all of them in Florence, Alabama. #13. 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. We have four seasons here, and most people like that it switches things up from boating, to snowmobiling, ice fishing, and huntingthe list goes on, says Jayson Maguire, Realtor and owner of Exit Realty Connection in Watertown. Clemson, with the cultural draws of the university and the South Carolina Botanical Garden is just a stone's throw across the water. The beach on Lake Huron at Port Crescent State Park in Port Austin. Whether you're renting a lake house for the summer, or looking for a lakeside long weekend to book this fall, these are the 15 best lake towns in America. 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. I want to retire in Texas and near freshwater on $4,000 a month where (They come highly recommended.) Those interested in a vacation getaway can snag this four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom house located about 1.4 miles from the Guy Sandy boat ramp on Arbuckle Lake for $275,000. There are several nearby lakes: Burt Lake, Long Lake, Mullett Lake, Twin Lakes, and Black Lake. Maguire says there has been an increase in interest in the area, especially from out-of-state buyers given the areas lakeside location and tranquil and safe community. . Each place had to have at least 25 listings. Where to Buy a Lakefront Home in America - Travel + Leisure Marshals in South Carolina Friday afternoon. Condos start as low as $40,000. Spanning 2,600 acres, the lake of the Woods master-planned lake paradise offers residents exclusive access to its on-site equestrian center, 18-hole PGA golf . The roughly 2,000-square-foot house sits on a third of an acre and has a fenced backyard. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The 10 Best Places to Retire in the South - US News & World Report 2 last year. 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. This two-bedroom condo on Highland Lake, with a shared dock across the street, is for sale for $319,000. Enjoy the natural beauty while hiking through the park, or set out for a swim in nearby Greers Ferry Lake. Buyers can find single-family homes just blocks from the water starting in the $400,000s, like this $419,000, three-bedroom house just outside town. To ensure geographic diversity, we limited our list to just one city per state. Listed at $129,900, this house is close to the lake walk and Ashlands vibrant downtown. Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania. Beautiful beaches and candy-colored sunsets over Lake Michigan make this Midwest town a must. Average temperature: 71.8 degrees. 24. People are moving back to the area, either after retirement or because they can work from their lake cottage, she says. The charming red-brick downtown is filled with fun shops and restaurants. This Charming Small Town in Upstate New York Was Just Named the Best Place to Buy a Lake House in 2023 8 Best Small Towns to Buy a Vacation Home in the U.S. Where to Buy a Vacation Home in Colorado Alabama's 10 most affordable lakes to buy a house - al.com Stacker used 2020 data from WalletHub to determine the 46 best U.S. lake towns to live in, evaluating each on six factors: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of . 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. 10: Jordan Lake, average home listing $340,734. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. And all of them are great for those seeking escape in the spring and fall as wellno small consideration these days. Surprisingly, they're not talking about the lake wateralthough there's plenty of enjoyment to be had there. The South's Best Lake Towns 2022 - Southern Living Tucked way up in northern Minnesota, Ely is secluded and full of pristine lakes and unspoiled forests. When you're wiped from a day spent on the water and under the sun at Lake Conroe, there's nothing like kicking back at a local brewery and enjoying some tunes. Healthcare is another notable bargain, running 12% . The red-brick sidewalks and friendly locals in this town are sure to make you nostalgic for childhood days on the water. Marquette, Michigan. Yup. Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, this lake is part of a chain of lakes each created by a dam to generate electricity in the area. Rocky River, Ohio. Meanwhile, downtown is filled with antiques stores, restaurants, and small boutiques. Saugatuck, Michigan. That makes it appealing for investors as well as folks who stay there part of the time and rent out for the rest, to help pay off their mortgages. Watch the sun set over the town while grabbing a pint at Oconee Brewing Company, or beat the early bird crowd and catch the sunrise with a side of coffee and buttermilk pancakes at Caf 44. Here are the 25 most affordable places for renters currently, according to Zillow. Located in Pennsylvanias Poconos Mountain range, Gouldsboro is a close weekend trip for New Yorkers and New Jerseyians. The community is home to several private bodies of water: Roamingwood Lake, Deerfield Lake, Brooks Lake, Windermere Lake, Hidden Lake, and Big Springs Pond. Population: 316,381. 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. Best Places to Buy a Lake House 2021 | Vacasa Our readers voted on their favorites, and while no two stays are alike, we're sure that you'll find plenty of rest and relaxation in each of them. That provides plenty of opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, and even hiking. You're sure to catch your fix of small-town charm and slow country living in this Alabama town. 15 Cutest Small Towns in The South, USA - Southern Trippers Covington, Louisiana. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Lake Wylie is a 13,400 acre lake that was created for hydro-electric power, but is also used as a recreational facility by its nearby towns - which includes the rather famous Tega Cay, known for the Jim Bakker/PTL Club extravagance. Aurora, New York. The area is quiet and the weather is warm in the winter. Each place had to have at least 50 listings each month to make the cut. Buyers willing to spend a bit more can find huge spreads like this three-bedroom on more than an acre of property right on the edge of Lake Desoto listed for $454,900. Clearlake is one the more affordable lake towns in California, with average home prices just under $200,000. There are 6 public boat accesses, 2 nuclear power plants, and it is popular to both nearby North Carolina and its . In terms of housing, though, Dillon is much cheaper than those numbers suggest. LindaZ74 / Shutterstock. 25 Coolest Midwest Lake Vacation Spots | Midwest Living 15 Best Lake Towns in America - Travel + Leisure There are many reasons why Lake Tahoe stands out as a lake vacation. Read on for the 25 best places to live in the South. Buyers can get a home and land, such as this $225,000 one-bedroom log cabin overlooking Shagawa Lake. This lake town is brimming with charming accommodations, too, from the more modern Hotel Earl to the historic Bridge Street Inn and the waterfront Edgewater Inn & Suites. 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. Located on the sandy shores of Lake Erie, Sandusky was named one of Americas best coastal towns by U.S. Today, and topped the Realtor.com 2021 list of the Most Affordable Lake Towns. There's something for every travel palette in this town, from the boutique shops and locally-owned restaurants, to the 9,000-foot-plus peaks boasting hiking and mountain biking trails, to the seemingly unlimited boating and water sport opportunities on the clear blue water of Lake Chelan. Buyers want to be as close to the water as possible, whether in a condo near the lakelike this one-bedroom asking $160,500or in a single-family house. On the southeast shore of Lake Chelan, Chelan is a resort town nestled between the water and the Cascade Mountains. And yes, they can be terrific investments, too. 11 Affordable Places to Retire on the Waterfront - Topretirements If they already had one home by the lake and they had another home in an expensive city and you had to consolidate, which are you going to choose? she says. Lake Tahoe is so big (22 miles long and 12 miles wide) that it straddles . The Corpus Christi Bay area sits behind the Padre and Mustang islands. For those who aren't as keen on sinking their toes into soft white sand, Charlevoix is also home to Lavender Hill Farm, with idyllic fields packed with 25 lavender varieties, and Castle Farms - an actual stone castle in northern Michigan. 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. Sean Pavone/Getty. Many places with lake houses have activities. Howebuyers can settle right into this three-bedroom, one-bathroom home just blocks from Lake Superior. Rent a cabin with a private dock (and a boat, if you like) at MacDonald's Resort in Bayview. Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. As its nickname suggests, the lake is an immensely popular destination year-round for fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities. 25. When it comes to American lakes, Maine's got game. Most Affordable Lake Towns in Texas - Neighborhoods.com No. 10 best coastal small towns across the United States From a time-capsule-worthy main drag in Greensboro, Georgia, to a sun-soaked chain of lakes in Winter Haven, Florida, these are the South's best lake towns of 2022. Bryson City, North Carolina, is a small town with big views. * 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. Vermont's first and smallest city, Vergennes is a short drive to both Burlington and Middlebury. Nestled into the scenic foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, this 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. It's the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi - boasting 200 square miles of water. Hot Springs Village is the largest gated community in the United States.