Have you ever landed in a new city and thought, “I could live here”? For most, it’s a passing vacation daydream, but what if affording a vacation home was actually within reach? In some popular destinations, year-round sunshine and waterfront views might be more affordable than you’d expect.
Zoocasa analyzed median single-family home prices across 40 popular U.S. vacation destinations and calculated the annual income needed to afford a home in each one as well as the average monthly mortgage payment. The results might just inspire you to turn your next getaway into a permanent stay.
Many vacation markets require an income of over $150,000 to buy a home, but there are affordable alternatives.
In fact, the five most affordable vacation home markets all have average mortgage payments below the national average. For context, the national median price for a single-family home is $402,300, resulting in an average monthly mortgage payment of $2,081 (assuming a 20% down payment and a 30-year fixed rate of 6.72%).
In New Orleans, Pensacola, Savannah, and Galveston, the average monthly payment falls under $2,000, with a required income of just $76,000 or less. If you’re after beach access, Pensacola stands out as the most affordable coastal city on the list, with a median home price of just $330,000.
Other affordable coastal cities where you can buy a home on an income of $100,000 or less include Virginia Beach, Ocean City, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and South Padre Island.
And while Orlando doesn’t offer direct beach access, several popular beaches are within an hour’s drive. With a median home price of $390,000, it remains one of the few vacation hotspots where a home is still attainable on a $100K income. As one of the most visited cities in the U.S., thanks in part to its world-famous amusement parks, Orlando also offers strong rental potential, making it a smart choice for buyers looking to offset costs with passive income.
When it comes to pricey vacation homes, California takes the lead. Four of the five most expensive cities are located along its coast, including Santa Monica, Laguna Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Santa Barbara. Beach homes in these cities come with price tags exceeding $2.5 million and average monthly mortgage payments of over $13,000. At this point, it might just be better to leave oceanfront real estate to the fictional residents who can afford it.
Surprisingly, though, the most expensive vacation market to buy a home in the U.S. isn’t in the Golden State; it’s in Colorado. With a median home price of $6.9 million, Aspen is the most expensive vacation spot to buy a home and requires an income of $1.4 million.
Widely considered one of the top ski destinations in the world, Aspen’s homes are highly coveted for their proximity to world-class slopes. The most luxurious ski chalets boast panoramic mountain views, private trail access, and wellness amenities like indoor pools and saunas.
If you’re dreaming of a West Coast vacation home, your options under $1 million are limited. The most affordable is South Lake Tahoe, where the median home price is $675,000. But just up the lake in Tahoe City, prices climb steeply, with a median of $1,980,000.
Beyond that, only Napa Valley and Anaheim fall below the $1 million mark, though these are still on the higher end, at $905,000 and $960,000, respectively.
The East Coast offers far more options for buyers with a budget under $1 million. In some coastal cities, the median home price is comparable to—or even lower than—inland alternatives. Take Cape May, NJ, for example, where the median home price is $615,000. In contrast, Bergen County, the most populous county in the state, has a much higher median of $850,000.
Similarly, Myrtle Beach’s median home price of $547,500 is significantly lower than Charleston’s $750,000. So while owning a home in a vacation destination might seem out of reach, it’s not always inconceivable.
That said, living in these coastal areas can come with elevated risks, like flooding and hurricanes, which may drive up your insurance premiums and property taxes. That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced real estate agent when purchasing a home in a vacation market. They can help you assess potential risks and guide you toward the best options for your budget.
Whether you’re dreaming of beachfront views or ski-town charm, affording a vacation home might be more possible than you think. Start your search today with Zoocasa!
Methodology and Sources
Median single-family home prices were sourced from the National Association of Realtors and local real estate boards, using the most recent available data.
Average monthly mortgage payments were calculated based on a 20% down payment and a 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 6.72%.
To estimate the income needed to purchase a home, we assumed buyers allocate 30% of their gross income to housing costs.