An hour north of Orlando, you'll find this quaint small town full of antique shops and historic charm on the edge of Lake Dora. And if Dolly has ever spent time here, she didnt leave much of a trace. 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. Median home list price: $248,000. But its not just the water that makes the area so special and desirable. Many places with lake houses have activities. The town center of Wolfeboro is actually positioned directly on Lake Winnipesaukee, which offers an expansive 72 square miles of water. The 1,500-square-foot footprint allows for a second story, allowing the buyer to build a stunning 3,000-square-foot home on the water. Long-time locals and even some visitors are convinced that there's something in the water in this lake town. The first is its sheer size. * 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. Rangeley Lake is known for terrific fishing (it's a trout and salmon hub), swimming, canoeing, and kayaking. His brokerage has seen sales in lake towns surge by 50% this year compared to last year, as people flock to the water. Clearlake is one the more affordable lake towns in California, with average home prices just under $200,000. Homes with private access to the water from their backdoors are more costly, such as this four-bedroom listed at $1,997,000. As its nickname suggests, the lake is an immensely popular destination year-round for fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities. 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. Although Lake Placid boasts some impressive multimillion-dollar homes on the water, like this $11 million seven-bedroom estate, folks without trust funds can get into the housing market, too. The village of Winsted offers a downtown filled with antiques stores, restaurants, and small boutiques for those hoping to wile away a lazy afternoon. Buyers can find homes like this three-bedroom, two-bathroom lakeside abode, listed for $449,000. If the skys the limit, buyers can check out a four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom mansion on Cedar Point Road listed for roughly $2.4 million. Single-family homes on the water start in the high $300,000s to low $400,000 range, such as this four-bedroom on 2.31 acres listed at $410,000 or this three-bedroom on the market for $399,000. 10. 10 of the Best Small Towns on the East Coast, 11 Most Beautiful Lakes in the United States, This Is the Largest Alpine Lake in North America and It's Perfect for Visiting Year-round, 8 Amazing California Road Trips That Take You From Big Sur to the Sierras, These Are the Best Small Towns in the South, 50 Best Romantic Getaways for a Couples Trip, 34 Last-minute Beach Trips to Extend Your Summer, 12 Best Washington State Parks for Camping. Those who want to be on one of the larger bodies of water like East Okoboji Lake should expect to pay more, such as this five-bedroom on the market for $289,000. Wisconsin Dells, named for the mighty Wisconsin River Dells, is a lakefront vacation destination that truly has something for everyone. Wallethub's Best Beach Towns to Live in (Ocean or Lake) 15 Sparkling Seaside Towns In The USA The Best Small Beach Towns in the United States America's 25 Favorite Beach Towns America's Most Affordable Beach Towns in 2019 The 21 Most Popular Active and 55+ Communities in the Southeast. 10. There are less costly options, such as this two-bedroom with views of the lake and Crystal River listed for $410,000. Waterfront townhomes start in the mid-$100,000s, like this three-bedroom for $168,000. Buyers can get a home and land, such as this $225,000 one-bedroom log cabin overlooking Shagawa Lake. A vacation in a lake town is a guaranteed dose of old-fashioned family fun. Maine is home to (literally) thousands of lakes and ponds, from the largest lake, Moosehead, to midsize lakes like Portland-adjacent Sebago Lake and Rangeley Lake near the middle of the state. There has been a steady uptick in the number of people seeking out homes in lake towns over the past few years, says Glenn S. Phillips, CEO of Lake Homes Realty. They say a rainy day on the lake is better than a sunny day in the city. The International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center are probably the most happening spots in town. Clemson, with the cultural draws of the university and the South Carolina Botanical Garden is just a stone's throw across the water. 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. Thats a whole lot of space for you to lie out, water-ski, fish, kayak, or do whatever other water-based activity you care to dream up. Although offerings vary by location, youre likely to find options for boating, fishing and paddle boarding, said Wedgeworth. No. Lightvision, LLC/ Getty Images. Buyers on a budget, who dont mind roughing it a bit, can check out this small cabin on Pennock Island for just $79,000. Condos on Lake Delton start in the low $100,000s, like this sweet two-bedroom asking $154,900. Well, it all depends on where you look. Two years ago, USA Today named it the best coastal town in America. 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. People are moving back to the area, either after retirement or because they can work from their lake cottage, she says. But buyers willing to share rights could find a home starting in the $300,000 range, like this three-bedroom log cabin with a deeded dock on private Friends Lake listed at $339,000. Midwesterners travel from near and far to relax in the gorgeous bodies of water that dot the tourist towns of Okoboji and Spirit Lake. With the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, the Lake of the Arbuckles, and the Artesian Hotel, Casino, and Spa, the small town has a lot to offer. The former industrial town has pivoted and is cultivating its reputation as a resort town, Fullford says. Situated near Columbia, South Carolina's capital city, and just a short drive from Lake Murraya 50,000-acre reservoir with more than 600 miles of shorelineLexington is a great place to live. (Sorry.). Chattanooga area residents spend just 21.86% of the area's median household income on housing expenses, including mortgage payments, rent, property taxes and utilities. The town has less than 2,000 permanent residents, which gives it a . Residents, many of whom move to the village for retirement, spend their days paddleboarding, fishing and swimming in the lakes or walking along 30 miles of forested trails. The community is well-known for its abundance of vacation rentals and homes for sale. Crestline, California. 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. Take a tour of Wright's Rosenbaum House, the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house in Alabama. The actual town of Bigfork has a growing arts scene - between their impressive array of galleries, notable theatre presence, and annual Festival of the Arts - and it is known for great hiking, with many trails offering views of the lake. Be sure to make a stop at the iconic Mount Dora Lighthouse, one of only three registered freshwater lighthouses in the country. Jocquise R. Timmons, 28, of Paterson was arrested by U.S. 10 . Consider a visit to the LEGOLAND Theme Park. For those looking for an affordable lake home, this three-bedroom, three-bathroom ranch is listed for $375,000. Lake Wylie is in both Carolinas and the variety of activities in this area is great. 1. Then we calculated affordability by analyzing median home list prices year to date through May 2022 for these communities. Its perfect for outdoor recreation with acres to hike and canoe. Asheville, North Carolina. The word is getting out. Halfway between Minneapolis and Chicago, the area has become a popular year-round destination for urbanites seeking an escape from city life. Minocqua, Wisconsin. Every outdoor activity you can imagineswimming, hiking, rock climbing, golfing, canoeing, fishing, water skiing, and moreis possible at Lake Lure, and you'll still find plenty of time for relaxation once the sun sinks behind Chimney Rock each evening. This Southern Adirondack lake town is home to just 515 residents. Chelan offers housing options at a wide range of price points. Boone, North Carolina. Lake Wylie- South Carolina/North Carolina. This charming Missouri town is nestled in the Ozarks on the shores of Table Rock Lake and has lots of outdoor activities happening in and around the lake year-round, as well as indoor attractions including museums, galleries, and a historic downtown district filled with shops and restaurants. The 800-acre recreational lake is surrounded by a wooded shoreline, winding road and grassy picnic spots that come right up to the edge of the water. The Lake of the Woods area is perfect for spending one's golden years of retirement. Thinking of Buying a Lakeside Home? This rural Wisconsin getaway attracts water lovers from across the upper Midwest with its two local rivers, popular manmade Lake Delton and around a dozen other bodies of water with nice homes set right on the shoreline. When on dry land, you might hit a casino (Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania) or theme park (Branson, Missouri), tubing or go-karting (Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin), or enjoy strolling through the shops and restaurants of a historic district (Vermilion, Ohio).. Abingdon, Virginia. But in todays overheated housing market, is the concept of owning your own waterfront home a punishing fantasy or an achievable reality? Rangeley Lake State Park boasts 850 acres of mountainous terrain, making the area a perfect hiking destination as well. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices 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. Located in the Poconos Mountains, Lake Ariel is a true small town with a population of about 14,500. 2 . Cost of living . 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. 4) Holland State Park Beach: An expansive, sandy beach on Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa, each with its own campground. Located just south of the Iowa-Minnesota border, Spirit Lake sits on the western shore of East Okoboji Lake, in the Iowa Great Lakes region. Greensboro is situated right on the 19,000-acre lake and is home to a posh golf community (there are six courses within Reynolds Lake Oconee). Theres a reason Chelan is the go-to second-home destination for Seattlites seeking a more affordableand infinitely sunniersummer escape. 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. Darien is one of the best family beach towns in Georgia, with plenty to see and do. We see a trend across all our markets of buyers thinking, Life is short, buy the lake home! Many of those seek out the more rural lake towns where homes may be relatively more affordable than at larger lakes or at lakes near cities, says Phillips. With beautiful mountain scenery, the nearby lake (about 15 miles away), and lots of waterfall-dotted hiking trails, there's not shortage of enjoyment to be had in Western North Carolina. Lake Greenwood in Lake Greenwood State Park, located right outside the towns of Ninety Six (yes, real name) and Greenwood, offers 11,400-acres of floating fun. Thats where the data team at Realtor.com comes in. If you're looking to have the time of your life, this quiet lake town is meant for you. 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. Chelan offers housing options at a wide range of price points. 13. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The top tourist attractions are the International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center. Meanwhile, downtown is filled with antiques stores, restaurants, and small boutiques. No. The Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee rivers have their confluence at or near Paducah, and nearby are two long lakes, Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with the Land Between the Lakes Recreation Area situated between them. With Lone Star College . 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. While the area boasts multiple lakes, the family-friendly destination offers plenty to do when you need a break from the sun and heat. But there are also plenty of folks whod prefer to be right in town, within walking distance to dozens of restaurants, the performance center, and the nearly 30 sculptures spread throughout downtown. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. The New York Finger Lakes region is a pristine part of the state with 11 glistening bodies of water, each lined by towns with character. 9 Things Youd Better Consider First, Surf and Save? Enjoy Greensboro's historic charm: Main Street bustles with locally owned businesses and eateries, and Lake Oconee is a destination for water activities. Paducah and the small towns that surround it offer up fun on the area's many lakes and rivers. Located about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, Gainesville has city draws along with a branch of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, a nature center, visual arts center, and a history center. And all of them are great for those seeking escape in the spring and fall as wellno small consideration these days. Caddo Lake - Karnack. On the southeast shore of Lake Chelan, Chelan is a resort town nestled between the water and the Cascade Mountains. Its very close to pricier Lake George as well as Gore Mountain Ski Resort. To keep the list geographically diverse, we limited the list to one lake town per state. They were all built around the citys natural springshence the name. 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. However, its ghost town status seems to be changing with a larger number of people moving here after . . Rent a house along the water - on either the Nevada or California side - or stay at Edgewood Tahoe, the only five-star resort right on the water with gorgeous architecture, golfing, and an idyllic pool overlooking the lake. Dillon's overall cost of living score is 88, compared to South Carolina's 94 and the national average of 100. 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. Population: 316,381. This list could include 10 from along the state's 3,300 miles of shoreline and be very . Residential lots on Lake Monticello 8. From big lakes to small ones, natural ones to human-made, there are plenty of bodies of water calling out for you to explore themand maybe even make your new home in one of the lovely towns on their shores. The house, which sits on nearly a quarter-acre, offers views of Lake Kampeska from the deck. The company, based in Hoover, AL, has lakefront listings in 34 states. And yes, they can be terrific investments, too. Bryson City. Scott's median income of $55,825 is quite high, which helps offset the slightly higher home prices and rent. The city sits in a strategic position at the southern tip of the Inside Passage, connecting the Gulf of Alaska to the Puget Sound. Lake of the Ozarks State Park is the largest state park in Missouri. Why Southern Lake Lovers Will Always Choose the Lake Over the Beach, The Best Places for a Dreamy Retirement in the South, Our Favorite Small Towns in North Carolina, 32 Charming Mountain Towns To Visit This Fall, The Prettiest Beach Town in Every Beachy State, 8 Things to Do in the Charming Town of Anderson, South Carolina, Our Guide to the Best Fall Color in Every Southern State, The Best Trips to Take with Your Girlfriends, The Best Vacation Spots In Every Southern State, Tell Grandma To Get Out Her Good Luggage, We've Got 18 Trip Ideas for the Whole Family. And isn't that what makes the best lake towns shine? Howebuyers can settle right into this three-bedroom, one-bathroom home just blocks from Lake Superior. Treptow notes that the town has seen an uptick in the number of visitors to the area, as well as folks who have decided to turn their lake homes into their permanent homes. 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. The Corpus Christi Bay area sits behind the Padre and Mustang islands. Cheboygan, Michigan. To ensure geographic diversity, we limited our list to just one city per state. Watch: Home Buying Update: Where to Aim Highand Bid Higher. The presence of water-based activities and attractions was one of the main ranking factors for this list. The beach on Lake Huron at Port Crescent State Park in Port Austin. Budget tip: Ko Lanta is one of the cheap beach towns that's as perfect for adventurous backpackers as it is for families. Share of household income . The Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway connects the area's extensive park system via roads and walking and biking trails. Located approximately 35 miles south of the Kennedy Space Center, Melbourne residents average $853 on monthly housing costs, ranking 12 th for this metric. And for $800,000, its possible to buy a cabin on a private island. Those looking to move to Cheboygan are finding plenty of affordable homes . The informative museum on the Games and international ski jump, bobsled, and luge training facilities still gets tons of visitors who want to learn more or watch world-class athletes train.
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