Posted by: Richie Bernardo

Living by the beach is the ultimate dream for many Americans. After all, beachside communities often represent a relaxed and luxurious way of life. But few realize their dream of living by the water, precisely because of the misconception that beach towns are relatively more expensive and generally less livable than landlocked cities.

Contrary to popular belief, however, many beach towns are suitable to everyday life — and easy on the wallet. So in order to determine the beach communities that are ideal for making one’s permanent home, WalletHub compared 205 cities across 58 key indicators of livability. We split our comparison into two categories, towns located by the ocean and by lakes. Our data set ranges from housing costs to share of for-sale waterfront homes to quality of beach water.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

 

Best Beach Towns to Live in (Ocean)

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Total Score	‘Affordability’ Rank	‘Weather’ Rank	‘Safety’ Rank	‘Economy’ Rank	‘Education & Health’ Rank	‘Quality of Life’ Rank
1	Lahaina, HI	64.90	4	24	1	1	120	10
2	Naples, FL	63.61	71	112	28	62	33	1
3	Sarasota, FL	61.09	31	30	109	85	27	4
4	Mill Valley, CA	60.74	35	49	5	2	41	31
5	St. Augustine, FL	60.66	90	36	103	79	24	3
6	Santa Monica, CA	60.26	157	38	64	20	149	2
7	Boca Raton, FL	59.07	42	13	85	44	49	18
8	Kihei, HI	59.02	9	25	26	47	122	12
9	Westport, CT	58.99	1	111	24	33	1	120
10	Key West, FL	58.31	98	154	54	19	47	5
11	Jupiter, FL	57.63	7	28	89	3	51	76
12	Portland, ME	57.19	85	121	70	52	13	22
13	Charleston, SC	57.08	81	82	82	14	110	15
14	Encinitas, CA	56.93	36	83	39	7	85	40
15	Venice, FL	56.90	52	10	71	38	23	55
16	Sonoma, CA	56.68	82	9	41	54	42	33
17	Vero Beach, FL	56.57	103	35	55	118	34	14
18	Key Biscayne, FL	55.90	70	108	8	66	58	43
19	Carlsbad, CA	55.87	68	84	57	4	80	41
20	San Clemente, CA	55.83	34	58	45	21	124	53
21	Brunswick, ME	55.77	39	95	12	17	9	96
22	Benicia, CA	55.75	10	7	32	30	74	102
23	San Mateo, CA	55.73	57	29	44	10	100	60
24	Newport Beach, CA	55.72	147	68	52	39	115	16
25	Santa Barbara, CA	55.62	156	85	73	34	118	8
26	Santa Cruz, CA	55.13	158	79	112	72	75	6
27	Swampscott, MA	55.08	45	134	10	51	10	126
28	Atlantic Beach, FL	55.07	22	21	29	112	44	77
29	Fernandina Beach, FL	54.75	135	48	17	57	39	51
30	Shorewood, WI	54.71	107	93	4	145	18	80
31	Destin, FL	54.66	5	115	110	28	130	23
32	Lake Forest, CA	54.61	97	32	36	45	126	61
33	Norwalk, CT	54.52	72	105	30	46	7	117
34	Coronado, CA	54.52	152	88	13	6	70	32
35	Monterey, CA	54.50	124	67	93	65	140	11
36	Ocean City, NJ	54.15	134	120	33	125	15	29
37	Alameda, CA	54.13	129	89	46	11	60	58
38	North Myrtle Beach, SC	54.12	25	8	140	50	139	17
39	Hermosa Beach, CA	54.04	108	53	18	9	146	39
40	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA	53.98	59	140	22	32	69	42
41	Edmonds, WA	53.98	101	16	75	16	29	114
42	Jacksonville Beach, FL	53.96	26	56	96	77	40	46
43	Palos Verdes Estates, CA	53.88	13	132	19	40	145	50
44	Satellite Beach, FL	53.85	3	72	60	98	67	101
45	Dana Point, CA	53.81	119	60	38	88	129	37
46	Laguna Beach, CA	53.75	155	62	86	53	116	19
47	Manhattan Beach, CA	53.62	131	74	34	5	143	54
48	Stuart, FL	53.61	54	44	100	81	137	26
49	Olympia, WA	53.42	122	11	117	82	28	36
50	Goleta, CA	53.41	86	43	47	13	108	91
51	Newburyport, MA	53.19	74	142	40	41	11	103
52	Daly City, CA	53.16	117	26	35	15	102	125
53	Seal Beach, CA	53.16	114	59	48	12	113	75
54	South Portland, ME	53.15	56	121	78	86	8	87
55	Anacortes, WA	53.11	91	78	37	36	82	89
56	Coral Gables, FL	53.11	50	117	62	22	62	45
57	Myrtle Beach, SC	52.84	89	5	151	74	144	7
58	North Palm Beach, FL	52.84	77	47	15	116	43	99
59	Redondo Beach, CA	52.81	132	73	27	25	147	57
60	Rye, NY	52.72	24	101	3	60	111	128
61	Half Moon Bay, CA	52.65	80	31	65	42	98	44
62	New Smyrna Beach, FL	52.53	12	69	106	35	117	63
63	Pensacola, FL	52.53	61	76	120	94	57	35
64	Milford, CT	52.47	32	87	42	115	4	137
65	Clearwater, FL	52.38	29	42	121	97	52	56
66	Stratford, CT	52.11	88	125	31	134	2	134
67	South Yarmouth, MA	52.04	109	75	14	133	6	109
68	Cocoa Beach, FL	51.96	2	113	133	123	78	30
69	Salem, MA	51.78	136	139	59	68	14	97
70	Port Royal, SC	51.73	47	1	99	84	55	158
71	Pacific Grove, CA	51.62	106	66	16	27	138	62
72	Carpinteria, CA	51.59	87	77	9	80	114	95
73	San Luis Obispo, CA	51.59	160	6	95	106	91	21
74	Fort Walton Beach, FL	51.49	16	109	72	105	134	48
75	Miami Beach, FL	51.44	115	131	142	69	96	9
76	Pacifica, CA	51.38	58	27	51	24	97	136
77	Kailua, HI	51.14	76	104	81	90	160	13
78	Newport, RI	51.09	128	127	68	83	123	28
79	Marina, CA	51.02	37	4	66	92	141	127
80	East Haven, CT	51.00	104	71	43	132	5	155
81	Smyrna, DE	50.96	63	54	50	144	32	111
82	Kapolei, HI	50.86	18	18	107	37	125	85
83	Marco Island, FL	50.77	17	158	25	93	35	74
84	Biddeford, ME	50.76	73	95	108	96	19	118
85	Gulfport, FL	50.61	15	61	97	150	48	83
86	Ormond Beach, FL	50.48	20	40	116	48	121	78
87	Fort Myers, FL	50.46	78	103	147	56	38	25
88	Gloucester, MA	50.46	96	144	58	87	12	104
89	Port Washington, NY	50.44	33	148	6	64	68	129
90	Revere, MA	50.37	150	135	69	61	16	124
91	Dunedin, FL	50.16	44	138	84	107	46	72
92	Capitola, CA	50.06	115	91	88	59	82	67
93	Wailuku, HI	50.00	75	23	1	127	112	68
94	Shoreline, WA	49.97	125	98	63	43	31	110
95	Bellingham, WA	49.96	144	123	101	101	64	27
96	Tarpon Springs, FL	49.95	21	114	115	58	50	105
97	Delray Beach, FL	49.71	112	45	122	91	54	70
98	Lantana, FL	49.67	8	80	138	114	71	108
99	Great Neck, NY	49.37	142	149	79	31	65	47
100	Boynton Beach, FL	49.31	118	14	132	75	56	84
101	Hampton, VA	49.26	94	57	56	148	20	140
102	Beaufort, SC	48.98	30	1	146	142	72	69
103	Eureka, CA	48.64	65	3	129	104	107	98
104	Hollywood, FL	48.43	123	102	91	103	101	59
105	Panama City Beach, FL	48.40	60	116	150	23	156	20
106	Waianae, HI	48.32	38	18	80	108	133	122
107	Gulf Shores, AL	48.24	14	141	137	18	155	34
108	Melbourne, FL	48.20	49	50	139	95	84	100
109	Westerly, RI	48.16	120	124	76	122	30	82
110	Burien, WA	48.14	143	98	114	26	37	106
111	Savannah, GA	48.02	137	39	119	137	142	38
112	New Rochelle, NY	47.93	154	92	23	70	128	147
113	Hudson, FL	47.84	69	107	156	49	79	123
114	Hobe Sound, FL	47.63	28	34	127	89	136	133
115	Lynn, MA	47.62	148	137	87	117	17	152
116	Morro Bay, CA	47.52	149	65	20	153	99	79
117	Daytona Beach, FL	47.41	23	41	148	121	135	52
118	New London, CT	47.33	145	126	83	147	3	121
119	Lompoc, CA	47.28	130	37	74	124	119	146
120	Glen Cove, NY	47.13	133	152	11	73	88	151
121	Bonita Springs, FL	47.01	41	155	161	8	36	92
122	Hull, MA	47.01	46	159	21	100	22	144
123	Ewa Beach, HI	46.95	62	17	105	63	131	138
124	Santa Fe Springs, CA	46.87	43	52	131	120	152	64
125	Kaneohe, HI	46.86	67	18	128	29	127	116
126	Ventnor City, NJ	46.64	153	130	49	161	26	90
127	La Porte, TX	46.59	99	90	67	55	154	159
128	Jensen Beach, FL	46.26	27	100	152	109	132	88
129	Wantagh, NY	45.86	55	153	111	67	59	143
130	Merritt Island, FL	45.60	6	63	155	119	76	141
131	Fort Pierce, FL	45.51	127	22	130	139	63	112
132	Dover, DE	45.49	139	55	135	141	21	119
133	Watsonville, CA	45.35	146	33	61	138	93	145
134	Malibu, CA	45.20	159	136	98	149	148	24
135	Ocean Springs, MS	44.97	19	110	92	154	158	81
136	Richmond, CA	44.82	151	86	113	102	66	148
137	Warwick, RI	44.64	100	129	77	110	153	132
138	Hallandale Beach, FL	44.58	121	117	104	140	106	93
139	Dania Beach, FL	44.56	138	117	102	135	104	94
140	Lake Worth, FL	44.53	92	45	143	131	89	107
141	Apollo Beach, FL	44.51	11	128	156	71	73	154
142	Galveston, TX	44.47	95	160	90	78	151	71
143	Massapequa, NY	44.19	66	156	123	76	61	139
144	Spring Hill, FL	44.07	53	64	159	129	45	156
145	Port Lavaca, TX	43.98	110	12	94	160	150	153
146	Panama City, FL	43.76	105	70	136	128	156	66
147	Essex, MD	43.65	93	15	141	157	92	161
148	Long Beach, NY	43.62	84	161	7	126	77	142
149	Cocoa, FL	43.61	113	51	158	146	90	73
150	Navarre, FL	43.57	63	94	160	111	105	157
151	Riviera Beach, FL	42.89	83	80	145	143	53	150
152	Asbury Park, NJ	42.81	161	150	118	151	25	49
153	Hilo, HI	42.69	111	106	153	99	159	65
154	Babylon, NY	42.66	51	157	124	130	86	113
155	Stony Brook, NY	42.43	79	145	124	136	87	135
156	Patchogue, NY	42.42	141	146	53	155	103	86
157	Mount Sinai, NY	42.07	48	143	149	152	81	149
158	Biloxi, MS	41.88	40	133	126	113	161	115
159	Holiday, FL	40.53	126	97	154	159	94	130
160	Hampton Bays, NY	39.26	102	151	134	158	109	131
161	Shirley, NY	37.43	140	147	144	156	95	160

 

Best Beach Towns to Live in (Lake)

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Total Score	‘Affordability’ Rank	‘Weather’ Rank	‘Safety’ Rank	‘Economy’ Rank	‘Education & Health’ Rank	‘Quality of Life’ Rank
1	Traverse City, MI	67.92	11	13	10	6	26	1
2	Eden Prairie, MN	61.31	1	9	11	4	5	26
3	Folsom, CA	61.12	2	5	23	5	33	5
4	Highland Park, IL	60.03	12	32	6	13	13	10
5	Mequon, WI	59.36	3	14	13	10	3	23
6	Holland, MI	58.97	14	12	24	14	24	4
7	Alpena, MI	58.58	8	1	7	30	23	12
8	Bay Village, OH	58.40	4	3	1	24	30	31
9	Mercer Island, WA	58.26	29	29	21	3	16	8
10	Redmond, WA	57.93	26	29	30	1	18	7
11	Stoughton, WI	57.56	16	17	4	21	2	32
12	Brookfield, WI	57.36	10	18	17	12	10	17
13	Rocky River, OH	57.10	18	2	2	11	31	29
14	Duluth, MN	57.08	24	10	26	20	4	11
15	Pewaukee, WI	56.95	15	25	5	15	11	22
16	Kirkland, WA	56.67	36	29	16	2	19	13
17	Gages Lake, IL	55.02	9	37	12	7	15	27
18	Burlington, VT	54.07	44	36	20	16	1	6
19	Branson, MO	52.40	25	42	43	19	43	2
20	South Lake Tahoe, CA	52.24	43	23	31	26	32	3
21	Plattsburgh, NY	51.78	19	20	8	28	36	14
22	Loveland, CO	51.70	37	33	28	8	14	16
23	St. Cloud, FL	50.46	6	38	14	18	42	24
24	Vermilion, OH	50.32	13	11	3	43	35	36
25	Laconia, NH	49.71	35	19	35	22	6	19
26	Lake Havasu City, AZ	49.67	20	6	29	17	39	18
27	Lee's Summit, MO	49.63	5	35	19	9	34	43
28	Kenosha, WI	49.25	34	28	18	32	12	20
29	Oak Creek, WI	48.99	22	41	22	23	8	39
30	Racine, WI	47.56	38	21	34	31	9	21
31	Council Bluffs, IA	47.34	23	43	27	27	7	25
32	Portage, IN	46.86	17	22	15	39	25	40
33	Ashtabula, OH	44.98	31	4	38	38	28	38
34	Sebring, FL	44.58	32	34	37	40	40	9
35	Muskegon, MI	44.20	39	8	40	41	27	15
36	Oregon, OH	43.42	7	40	32	33	41	28
37	Port Huron, MI	43.28	30	7	39	35	29	35
38	Waukegan, IL	42.67	41	27	25	36	20	41
39	Lakewood, WA	42.67	42	15	44	25	22	33
40	Michigan City, IN	42.51	27	24	41	34	21	30
41	Zion, IL	41.79	40	26	33	42	17	37
42	Lake Elsinore, CA	41.25	28	39	36	29	38	34
43	Lorain, OH	40.63	33	16	9	44	37	44
44	Morgan City, LA	27.98	21	44	42	37	44	42

Ask the Experts

Beach-town life is not for everyone. To help prospective residents make the best decision, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What should people look for in choosing a beach property?
2. Is it better to live in a beach town with a large year-round population compared to those with a more seasonal population?
3. What affects the value of beach properties over time? How can someone determine if a given property is a good investment for the long term?
4. How might beachfront real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change?

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• John C. Dernbach Commonwealth Professor of Environmental Law and Sustainability, Director, Environmental Law and Sustainability Center, Widener University Commonwealth Law School
• Lawrence “Larry” Colorito Senior Managing Director, Valbridge Property Advisors
• Paul Wapner Professor, Global Environmental Politics, School of International Service, American University

John C. Dernbach Commonwealth Professor of Environmental Law and Sustainability, Director, Environmental Law and Sustainability Center, Widener University Commonwealth Law School

How might beachfront real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change?

People who own beach front real estate, or are considering the purchase of beach front property, need to think long and hard about how that property may be affected by rising sea levels from climate change. A current and helpful source of information is a report just issued on the effect of sea level rise on coastal property. See https://ift.tt/2KcJ6yh

In this report, the Union of Concerned Scientists used data on chronic coastal flooding as well as data from Zillow, the on-line real estate company, to project that sea level rise in the contiguous U.S. will put 300,000 homes and business properties worth $236 billion at risk of “chronic, disruptive flooding” by 2045. It also projected that 2.5 million properties worth more than $1 trillion in today’s dollars will be at risk of such flooding by 2100.

Where is this property? The report comes with interactive maps that enable you to identify these areas by community and zip code.

Property values in some of these areas are already falling. https://ift.tt/2HEzLNv so if someone wants to buy beach front property and assumes that the value of this property will appreciate over time, that assumption will be wrong in a growing number of places.

Lawrence “Larry” Colorito Senior Managing Director, Valbridge Property Advisors

What should people look for in choosing a beach property?

If you plan to rent it by the week to vacationers, don’t look just at the price but at the return in investment. Larger, better located properties may cost more, but also tend to rent for more & may provide a better return.

Is it better to live in a beach town that has a large year round population compared to those with a more seasonal population?

It depends on what you want. Towns like Va. Beach, that are part of large metro areas tend to offer more career opportunity. You don’t have to retire or rely on just tourism-related jobs. Also, those towns are still active off-season. If it’s a 2nd home or the goal is to retire that may not be as important.

What affects the value of beach properties over time? How can someone determine if a given property is a good investment for the long term?

All real estate markets are cyclical and are impacted by the National and local economy. Beach towns with seasonal population may be especially susceptible to economic downturns. 2nd homes are “wants” not “needs”, and demand can go down quickly when the economy slows.

Paul Wapner Professor, Global Environmental Politics, School of International Service, American University

What should people look for in choosing a beach property?

A place that speaks to their heart and soul. Buying a beach property is to choose to live in the midst of nature - to be vulnerable and amazed by the changing character of sea, sun, moon, stars, and so forth.

Is it better to live in a beach town that has a large year round population compared to those with a more seasonal population?

It depends on what one wants out of the experience. There is no right answer. For those seeking solitude, seasonal populations may provide long periods of quiet and reflection. For those seeking recreation, year-round people will add to the other-than-nature amenities.

What affects the value of beach properties over time? How can someone determine if a given property is a good investment for the long term?

I’m not a financial investor; I’m a professor and lover of nature. A good investment has to do with what will meaningfully enhance one’s life not what will only advance one’s pocketbook (although the two can be connected).

How might beachfront real estate be affected by rising ocean levels due to climate change? Are some areas more vulnerable than others? What can homeowners and/or local authorities do to mitigate potential problems due to climate change?

Rising sea levels will definitely render beachfront properties more vulnerable. As long as insurance companies and the federal government continue to underwrite such properties, homeowners will have some financial support. However, potential homeowners should note that insurance premiums will continue to rise and some types of damage (flooding, etc.) May be uncoverable. Moreover, a number of municipalities are requiring that information about climate change be kept out of discussions with potential beach property buyers. This means that buyers should be particularly careful when evaluating information about broader conditions. On the whole, all the science points to the inevitability of rising sea levels, more intense storms, and other climate-related intensities such that buying beachfront properties is increasingly becoming a gamble.  

Methodology

In order to determine the best beach towns in America, WalletHub compared 205 cities across six key dimensions: 1) Affordability, 2) Weather, 3) Safety, 4) Economy, 5) Education & Health and 6) Quality of Life, splitting the sample into ocean towns and lake towns.

We evaluated those dimensions using 58 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for beach-town living.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Our sample includes all cities with populations between 10,000 and 150,000 and at least one beach listed on TripAdvisor. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Affordability – Total Points: 14

• Housing Costs: Double Weight (~4.00 Points)Note: This is a composite metric calculated as follows: a) Median House Price / Median Annual Household Income b) Median Rent Price / Median Annual Household Income
• Median Household Income: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
• Median Annual Property Taxes: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Median Real Estate Tax / Median House Price
• Share of For-Sale Waterfront Homes: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Share of For-Sale Homes with RV/Boat Parking: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Share of For-Sale Homes with Swimming Pools: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Weather – Total Points: 14

• Weather: Full Weight (~2.33 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.
• Water Temperature: Full Weight (~2.33 Points)
• Number of Disasters (Since 1953): Full Weight (~2.33 Points)
• Total Disaster Grants Provided per Capita: Full Weight (~2.33 Points)Note: This metric is based on FEMA’s Disaster Housing Assistance data visualization, which shows data from both FEMA’s Individual and Household Program and the Small Business Administration’s Disaster Home Loan Program.
• Flood Risk Level: Full Weight (~2.33 Points)
• Hurricane Storm Surge Risk Level: Full Weight (~2.33 Points)

Safety – Total Points: 14

• Violent Crime Rate: Full Weight (~3.50 Points)
• Property Crime Rate: Full Weight (~3.50 Points)
• Walkability: Full Weight (~3.50 Points)
• Lifeguards per Capita: Full Weight (~3.50 Points)

Economy – Total Points: 14

• Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Share of Population Living in Poverty: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Population Growth: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Income Growth: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Median Credit Score: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Foreclosure Rate: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Share of People who Had a Bankruptcy in the Past Year: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

Education & Health – Total Points: 14

• Quality of School System: Triple Weight (~4.67 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “States with the Best & Worst School Systems” ranking.
• Share of Insured Population: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Quality of Public Hospital System: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)Note: This metric is based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ ranking of public hospital systems.
• Share of Adults in Poor or Fair Health: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Quality of Air: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Quality of Drinking Water: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Quality of Beach Water: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of received beach-water samples that exceed the Beach Action Value (BAV). BAV is the marine recreational water quality standard used to determine whether bacteria levels are unsafe for water contact. When a single marine water sample has bacteria levels at or above the BAV, a health advisory is issued. Once a health advisory is issued, beach visitors are instructed to avoid water contact until the health advisory is lifted.

Quality of Life – Total Points: 30

• Average Commute Time: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Average Weekly Work Hours: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Number of Attractions: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Diversity of Attractions: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Nightlife Establishments per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Beaches” Ranking: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Restaurants per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Music Venues per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Breweries per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Festivals per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Coffee Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Cinemas per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Swimming Pools per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Public Beaches per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Boat Tours & Water Sports per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Surfing Spots per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Amusement Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Water Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Water Parks” List: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of a city on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Water Parks” List
• Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Running Trails per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Walking Trails per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Fitness Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Golf Courses per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Tennis Courts per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Beach Volleyball Courts per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)
• Number of Shopping Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.07 Points)

 

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Association of REALTORS, World Sea Temperature, Federal Emergency Management Agency, ATTOM Data Solutions, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Walk Score, AreaVibes, Renwood RealtyTrac, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, United States Environmental Protection Agency, County Health Rankings, Natural Resources Defense Council, TransUnion, TripAdvisor, Yelp.com, Under Armour and WalletHub research.

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