It happens to the best of us: We rent a house on a lake for a weekend and start dreaming of owning our own lake house one day. From relaxing on the beach to listening to the sound of the waves from the comfort of your own back deck, living on the lake offers a special type of serenity that usually comes with a pretty sky-high price tag.
Luckily, there are some affordable lake towns out there, and Realtor.com looked at home listings within a half-mile of a named lake and analyzed the average listing prices to determine which lake towns offer the most affordable homes. If you want a life on the lake but you’re balling on a budget, check out these towns across the United States.
Related: 22 Underrated Places to Retire in the U.S.
1. Danville, Illinois
Median list price: $154,900
Population: 29,534
Known for: Its rich history and museums
Located on Lake Vermillion along the Indiana border, Danville is a quaint midwestern town that is a popular boating and fishing destination. The town also has some compelling cultural heritage and was once a major coal mining town and railroad hub. This is the perfect location to plant your roots if you want access to the lake along with historical sites and museums.
2. Rogers City, Michigan
Median list price: $140,000
Population: 2,838
Known for: Salmon fishing and pristine shorelines
Looking for a tight-knit lake town on a tight budget? Rogers City is your place. Located near the tippy top of Michigan’s mitten, this town offers the best of life on Lake Huron with salmon fishing tournaments, a scenic lighthouse, and idyllic waterside landscapes. Rogers City is also home to one of the Great Lakes’ biggest shipping ports and the world’s largest open-pit limestone quarry, the Port of Calcilite.
3. Dunkirk, New York
Median list price: $122,750
Population: 12,651
Known for: Parks, museums, and other attractions
Bordered on the north by Lake Erie, Dunkirk is the westernmost city in all of New York. Moving here won’t just give you lake access either. Dunkirk boasts a variety of attractions including Point Gratiot Park, Dunkirk Lighthouse, the Dunkirk boardwalk market, and Veteran’s Park Museum.
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4. Fairmont, Minnesota
Median list price: $129,900
Population: 10,465
Known for: Fishing, boating, and snowmobiling
Appropriately dubbed “The City of Lakes,” Fairmont is built around a chain of five lakes. With so much access to the water, residents can enjoy a slew of recreational activities including boating, fishing, and swimming during the summer and snowmobiling and ice skating during the winter.
Related: Best Fishing Spots in All 50 States
5. Cherokee Village, Arkansas
Median list price: $126,900
Population: 4,977
Known for: Being a recreational community
Inside the city limits of Cherokee Village, there are seven lakes and two marinas. As the first planned recreational community in Arkansas, Cherokee Village offers golf courses, community swimming pools, and plenty of waterfront access.
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6. Sheffield, Alabama
Median list price: $169,900
Population: 9,305
Known for: Being the home of Muscle Shoals Sound Studios
Sheffield residents enjoy access to Pickwick Lake. The town is riddled with Antebellum and Victorian-era buildings, and it’s also known for being the home of Muscle Shoals Sound Studios (a bucket-list destination for music lovers), where an abundance of big-name musicians (Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Osmonds, Cher, The Rolling Stones, and more) recorded music.
7. Lorain, Ohio
Median list price: $135,000
Population: 65,440
Known for: Its steel mill
Often referred to as “Steel City,” Lorain isn’t your average Ohio city. It’s located along Lake Erie at the mouth of the Black River, yet it’s still only about 25 miles west of the bustling city of Cleveland. Basically, in the same day, you can boat, fish, and catch a Cleveland Browns’ game.
Related: The Best Lakes in All 50 States
8. Two Rivers, Wisconsin
Median list price: $139,900
Population: 11,276
Known for: Its claim to being the birthplace of the ice cream sundae
Yes, this town’s name is “Two Rivers.” But its geography actually entails the point where the East Twin and West Twin rivers meet before they flow into Lake Michigan. And as far as Lake Michigan towns go, this charming Wisconsin town is just about as cheap as they come.
Related: The Most Beautiful River in Every State
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9. Augusta, Kansas
Median list price: $185,000
Population: 9,299
Known for: Abundant historic buildings
Augusta residents can swim, fish, boat, and kayak in the town’s 190-acre man made lake, Augusta Lake. Residents of the town can pretty much always find something to stay entertained, whether they’re spending time on the water or participating in a community event.
Related: The Oldest Building in Each State
10. Hartsville, South Carolina
Median list price: $285,000
Population: 7,565
Known for: Being a tight-knit community
You’ll find below average priced lakefront homes in Hartsville, but you might have a hard time closing a deal because of how tightly wound the community is. Although there aren’t “For Sale” signs in every other yard, this town is still one to keep on your radar if you’re dreaming of life on the lake.
