10 Most Affordable Coastal Destinations to Live in Around the U.S.

"Beach towns in the United States are notoriously expensive places to live. Demand for homes is high, supply is typically limited, and high insurance rates and real estate competition driven by vacation rentals drive up costs. But not every beach destination is Nantucket, Montauk, or Malibu. Some are actually relatively affordable."

"After combing through data for the top 200 metro areas in the country, the real estate marketplace was able to pull numbers on several affordability factors, including: the Zillow home value index (or the typical home value in that area), typical rent in the area, new homeowner and renter affordability, income needed to afford a home, and income needed to afford a rental."

"For additional context and comparison, Zillow provided the following numbers for the U.S. as a whole: Zillow home value index: $357,275; Typical rent: $1,901; New homeowner affordability with a 20 percent down payment: 32.40 percent; New renter affordability: 26.50 percent; Income needed to afford a home: $93,011; Income needed to afford a rental: $76,020."

Beach towns in the United States typically command high prices due to strong demand, limited housing supply, elevated insurance costs, and competition from vacation rentals. However, not all coastal destinations are prohibitively expensive. Travel + Leisure partnered with a real estate marketplace to identify affordable beach communities by analyzing data from the top 200 metro areas. The analysis examined multiple affordability metrics including Zillow home value index, typical rental rates, homeowner and renter affordability percentages, and income requirements for both purchasing and renting. National benchmarks show a median home value of $357,275 and typical rent of $1,901. The research identified ten relatively affordable beach destinations worthy of consideration for those seeking coastal living without excessive financial burden.

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