Realtor, com has named Sunset Beach as one of the 10 most affordable beach cities in the United States for homebuyers in 2024. More than 80% of Americans have been on vacation in the past 5 years, and more than a third enjoy watching real estate ads while on vacation. While not every vacation ends at the beach, for fifty-six percent of Americans, their ideal vacation home is for one, and this year's list of affordable coastal cities offers them a combination of coastal living with access to a public sandy ocean beach, adequate inventory, and affordable average home sales prices. Methodology Based on a federal database of beaches and their locations, we created a list of coastal cities and towns. We then ranked them based on the average sales prices of single-family homes in March, including condos, but excluding homes mobile.
Only cities with at least 25 active listings during the month were included, to ensure adequate inventory. To make the final list, these coastal towns had to include a publicly accessible sandy ocean beach within the city limits. Cities located on the shoreline of estuaries, such as inland bays and lakes, were excluded from this year's ranking. Access to the beach is free without an appointment, making it an ideal place for tourists who want to save money money in activities.
And, if you're looking for one, the most affordable places to buy a beach home include a North Carolina city made famous in a popular novel. With so many small coastal towns to visit in the Carolinas at an affordable price, tourists on a budget can have the time of their lives planning and living their vacations in the South. As expected, the city's name is a tribute to the cutest water bird, the duck, which was popular with hunters in this region of North Carolina during the 20th century and prized for its bright green feathers. Kitty Hawk Regional Beach (walk-in), Currituck Banks Reserve (free admission), and Corolla Beach (public access)).
Nags Head Beach is publicly accessible and free from several places, including piers, making it the perfect beach stop for tourists on a budget. Located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the town of Nags Head is a great vacation spot for tourists who love beaches, hiking, and historic lighthouses. With aquamarine waters, white sand and grassy shores, the Carolinas have some of the most beautiful beaches on the East Coast. While a warm vacation during the spring and summer months may seem expensive, savvy travelers visiting the Carolinas will know that there are plenty of stunning beach spots for visit at an affordable price.
Perhaps one of the best places in North Carolina for an affordable vacation is the small town of Swansboro, located just outside Jacksonville. On this list, tourists will discover some of the affordable coastal towns to visit in the Carolinas, comprising charming and affordable coastal locations in both North Carolina and South Carolina. When it comes to finding a place to spend your golden years, the Carolinas are full of beautiful coastal towns worth retiring to. According to the list, Jacksonville, located in eastern North Carolina along the New River, is among the most affordable beach cities to live in the country.
Beach lovers will be delighted with local coastal areas, in particular Hammocks Beach State Park and Emerald Isle Beach. I currently live in Mount Airy, but I really want to live near a coastal town, either in the town itself next to the beach or at most an hour or two from the beach.
