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Dreaming of Living By the Beach? This Is America’s Least Expensive Seaside Town

Inigo Del Castillo
Inigo Del Castillo
Inigo is a content writer at Apartment Therapy and previously for Lost At E Minor. A few years ago, he wrote an article about baby bats, which was so cute, Buzzfeed took a screenshot of the headline and cover image, then made a listicle about weird but adorable things. He thought it was so cool. He enjoys books, k-pop, anime, and sports. He is based in the Philippines.
published May 31, 2022
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With the average cost of a beach house ranging from $300,000 to $885,000 or more, many feel as though moving to an idyllic seaside town is a pipedream. But according to a new survey, there are locations where your dream could become reality.

Realtor.com recently studied the data of more than 1,300 coastal communities and listed the most affordable ones in America, with the top spot belonging to Atlantic City. 

Atlantic City’s public persona might be more HBO drama than quaint Hallmark Channel beach town, but it’s the most inexpensive location with the median home listing for $161,754. At that price, you’ll not only be able to hear the crashing of waves every day, but you’ll also have access to a multitude of entertainment options and food establishments. And if you’re really on a tight budget, Realtor.com suggests you can try a studio condo on the boardwalk, priced at just $95,000. 

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You might want to plan to buy sooner rather than later, though; while it’s currently the country’s most affordable coastal community, property prices in the metro area and the surrounding towns have jumped 18 percent since last year.

The second-most affordable seaside town is Deerfield Beach, Florida, with an average home listing price of $230,071. Although pricier than Atlantic City, this community is quieter, more family-friendly, and has warmer, sunshine-filled weather. As for the third spot on the list, New London, Connecticut is not far behind with a median home listing price of $242,392. It also offers more affordable properties such as a $149,000 two-bedroom condo with views of the waterfront.

Here are the rest of America’s top 10 least expensive seaside towns, according to Realtor.com:

  1. Atlantic City, New Jersey ($161,754)
  2. Deerfield Beach, Florida ($230,071)
  3. New London, Connecticut ($242,392)
  4. Mastic Beach, New York ($334,907)
  5. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina ($347,875)
  6. Seal Beach, California ($400,338)
  7. Rockport, Texas ($435,112)
  8. Lynn, Massachusetts ($449,626)
  9. Morehead City, North Carolina ($464,842)
  10. Tiverton, Rhode Island ($480,262)
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