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Summer is just around the corner, and as kids count down the days until school is out, families across the the country are getting ready to book their long-awaited vacations.
But for those who don’t find a week or two at a beach quite enough, Realtor.com® has crunched the numbers to identify the most budget-friendly towns in the U.S. where vacation-home buyers will get the most bang for their buck.
For the second consecutive year, Pascagoula, MS, emerged as the leader in beach house affordability. The popular Gulf Shore tourist destination is one of six oceanside towns that made last year’s list, which, notably, had only 10 entries.
“Pascagoula has made a concerted effort to revive its downtown district over the last decade. We’re seeing the payoff at work,” says Jacqueline Ready, managing broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeService Panoramic Properties.
According to Ready, the town has much to offer, from a walkable shopping district to a strong local job market, dominated by Chevron and Ingalls Shipbuilding.
“There are gorgeous waterfront and water-view homes, both historic and new build. The ancient oaks are just stunning, rivaling Savannah,” she says. “It’s absolutely a success story.”
And most importantly for prospective homebuyers, the asking prices in Pascagoula are more affordable than in most beach towns in the Southeast.
This year’s newcomers to the Realtor.com list include Long Beach, WA, in the Pacific Northwest, and the small but iconic East Coast resort destination of Ocean City, MD. The expanded roundup of the nation’s most affordable beach towns has entries across seven states, including New Jersey, Florida, and the Carolinas.
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How we determined the nation’s most affordable beach towns
To zero in on the nation’s most budget-friendly resort towns, Realtor.com economists started by analyzing a federal database of beaches and their locations before creating a list of coastal cities and towns.
Then, those were ranked by median list prices in April for single-family homes, including condominiums but excluding mobile homes.
Only cities with at least 50 active listings for the month were considered, to ensure adequate inventory. To guarantee geographic diversity, we included only two beach towns per state in the top 12 rankings, excluding additional entries from states already listed.
1. Pascagoula, MS
April 2025 median list price: $165,610
Known as Mississippi’s Flagship City, Pascagoula is a Gulf Shore city of 22,000 people that boasts a rich history going back 300 years—and an impressive antebellum architecture to match.
Pascagoula is named for the Native American tribe that lived in the area when Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto founded the settlement in the 1540s.
Over the centuries, Pascagoula has been home to pirates and presidents, as well as the nation’s most beloved beach bum, Jimmy Buffett. In fact, the city’s main public beach is named Buffett Beach in honor of the late “Margaritaville” singer who was born in Pascagoula.
“We’re seeing many natives who left for higher education or work return to Pascagoula to plant roots and invest,” says Ready, the area broker.
Pascagoula has no shortage of attractions besides the beach, including the Pascagoula Country Club with a nine-hole golf course. Nature lovers would enjoy the B.B. Jenning Park and the Petit Bois Island, a federally protected wilderness area accessible by boat, while history buffs could spend hours exploring the early 18th-century La Pointe-Krebs House offering a panoramic view of Krebs Lake.
Swimming in the ocean or playing a round of golf works up an appetite, and Pascagoula’s food scene does not disappoint, offering a wide array of options, from top-rated seafood restaurants to barbecue joints and taquerias.
2. Deerfield Beach, FL
April 2025 median list price: $211,750
Located in Broward County, Deerfield Beach offers its 87,000 residents an urban feel tinged with coastal living, with a wide selection of coffee shops, eateries, and green spaces.
The small town, which is home to a mix of young professionals with families and retirees, has no shortage of attractions, especially for the adventurous and outdoorsy types. They include an award-winning “Blue Wave” beach, the nation’s longest cable ski courses, hiking trails, and a fishing pier that’s nearly 1,000 feet long.
Craving some culture? Take a tour of the Historic Butler House, check out the Deerfield Beach Historical Society Museum, or get in on old-timey hijinks at the Florida Renaissance Festival.
3. Atlantic City, NJ
April 2025 median list price: $242,450
Although best known as the “Las Vegas of the East Coast” thanks to its many casinos and nightclubs, Atlantic City by now has cemented its place among the nation’s most affordable beach towns.
The city of just under 40,000 people boasts wide, well-maintained public beaches along the Jersey Shore, as well as one of the region’s most iconic wooden boardwalks lined with amusement park rides, shops, and snack shacks.
Those looking to indulge in some gambling have plenty of options to choose from in Atlantic City, including the celebrated Borgata Hotel Casino, MGM Tower, and the classic Hard Rock Hotel.
Most of the city’s high-end resorts also offer relaxing spa treatments and top-notch dining options.
4. Port Richey, FL
April 2025 median list price: $254,925
Located in the suburbs of Tampa and St. Petersburg, the tiny town of roughly 3,500 inhabitants is a peaceful spot with a laid-back vibe and a strong sense of community.
The town’s big selling point is its affordability, especially compared with other coastal areas in Florida.
In more good news for homebuyers, the surrounding Pasco County has lower property taxes and living costs than other parts of the region.
With its many beaches, parks, and nature preserves, Port Richey is ideal for those who love to spend time outdoors.
5. Port Lavaca, TX
April 2025 median list price: $292,000
Sitting near the center point of the 275-mile Texas Gulf Coast, Port Lavaca is a charming getaway that invites visitors to take a breather from the chaotic pace of modern life.
Although the town is small, with just 11,000 year-round inhabitants, it is not short on attractions and activities, from relaxing on Magnolia Beach to taking a stroll in Bayfront Peninsula Park.
But Port Lavaca is perhaps best known as a top bird-watching destination due to its location on a major migratory flyway for 400 species of birds.
Not interested in looking for warblers and vireos through binoculars? No worries, because Port Lavaca is also a haven for history enthusiasts, with Calhoun County Museum, La Salle Monument, and Halfmoon Reef Lighthouse found around town.
6. Myrtle Beach, SC
April 2025 median list price: $299,000
South Carolina’s famed resort city, Myrtle Beach is the epicenter of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile string of uninterrupted sandy beaches. For homebuyers, Myrtle Beach’s abundance of condos keeps this popular beach destination relatively affordable, with the median list price below $300,000.
The city’s crown jewel is its beachfront boardwalk featuring seafood restaurants, souvenir shacks, the old-fashioned Family Kingdom amusement park, and the 187-foot-tall SkyWheel, one of the tallest Ferris wheels in the U.S.
But Myrtle Beach is not all about the beach lifestyle. Celebrated as “the Golf Capital of the World,” the city and its surrounding areas boast more than 80 golf courses, among them the top-ranked Caledonia Gold and Fish Club and The Dunes Golf and Beach Club, and the Jack Nicklaus–designed Long Bay Club.
Other points of interest in Myrtle Beach include Ripley’s Aquarium and the Hollywood Wax Museum.
7. Ocean Springs, MS
April 2025 median list price: $302,500
Located just 2 miles east of Biloxi, Ocean Springs is part of the Pascagoula metro area.
Despite its small size, Ocean Springs has made a name for itself as a quaint, walkable town that is home to a thriving arts community, independent shops, and restaurants.
Nicknamed the “City of Discovery,” Ocean Springs is home to many art galleries, studios, and museums, including the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, the Ocean Springs Museum, and the G.I. Museum of military history.
Outside cultural heritage sites, the town of 19,000 offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature, from the Gulf Islands National Seashore to the Fort Maurepas State Park, the site of the first French settlement founded in 1699.
8. Corpus Christi, TX
April 2025 median list price: $310,000
With more than 300,000 people calling Corpus Christi home, it is by far the most populous city on our list this year. But don’t be fooled by the numbers, because it still offers an affordable coastal lifestyle with a relaxed atmosphere.
In fact, Corpus Christi’s biggest draw is its beaches, more than 100 miles of them.
Parts of both Padre Island National Seashore and Mustang Island State Park fall within Corpus Christi’s city limits, offering plentiful opportunities to frolic in the surf, camp, fish, kayak, and bird-watch. Notably, Padre Island features the longest uninterrupted beach in the U.S., measuring more than 65 miles in length.
Want a break from nature? Head over to the Texas State Aquarium to marvel at sea creatures; visit the USS Lexington, a decommissioned World War II-era aircraft carrier; or spend an afternoon at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.
Music fans might also be interested in paying homage to Selena Quintanilla at the Selena Museum, which features the late singer’s outfits and recording studio.
9. Surfside Beach, SC
April 2025 median list price: $310,925
For those looking to live on South Carolina’s Grand Strand but don’t want to deal with the hustle and bustle of the bigger and flashier Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach just might be the spot.
Nicknamed “the Family Beach,” the cozy, laid-back resort town of roughly 4,000 people offers 2 miles of pristine oceanfront with a good mix of relatively affordable single-family homes and condos.
The town is home to a popular fishing pier, multiple parks, and even a small museum.
10. Long Beach, WA
April 2025 median list price: $403,188
Long Beach, a town of just under 1,800 residents in Pacific County, is celebrated as the home of the world’s longest continuous peninsula beach stretching more than 28 miles in length.
Like many spots in the Pacific Northwest, Long Beach is a paradise for those who love the great outdoors, with hiking trails, parks, and wetlands teeming with birds.
Plus, history aficionados would enjoy walking in the footsteps of 19th-century explorers Lewis and Clark along the aptly named Discovery Trail.
Long Beach also has plenty of attractions catering to kids, including the colorful World Kite Museum, Cranberry Museum, and Funland Family Fun Center
11. Ocean Shores, WA
April 2025 median list price: $409,900
A second entry from Washington state on the 2025 list, Ocean Shores is a charming coastal town of under 8,000 that has much to offer in recreational activities.
Ocean Shores is flanked on one end by the Pacific Ocean and on the other by the north bay of Grays Harbor, with direct access to both, allowing visitors to enjoy swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and clamming.
Besides its beaches, the town is known for a network of picturesque interconnected canals and lakes.
Bird-watchers, take note: The shore pine trees and dunes of Ocean City State Park on the north side of town draw great numbers of migratory birds, while the Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area and Damon Point to the south feature nesting sites for snowy plovers.
12. Ocean City, MD
April 2025 median list price: $454,500
Rounding out the 2025 list of the 12 most affordable beach towns in the U.S. is Ocean City, a popular resort town wedged between the Atlantic Ocean and Isle of Wight Bay.
Although the town’s year-round population is just under 7,000, in the summer months it swells to roughly 350,000, temporarily making Ocean City Maryland’s second-most populated city, after Baltimore.
The city has much to recommend itself, from miles of pristine beaches and a bustling boardwalk, to attractions for the whole family, including Jolly Roger Amusement Park and the classic Trimper’s Rides attractions.
Those who enjoy outdoor adventures and water sports will have their hands full with fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding opportunities.
It’s important to note that Ocean City’s housing inventory skews heavily toward condominiums, with single-family homes making up just 11% of all active listings.
Ocean City is also the only entry on the list with a median price that surpassed April’s national median of $431,250. However, compared with most waterfront towns, it is still relatively affordable.
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