Posted by: Adam McCann

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 192 cities across 62 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 Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/36567/geochart-beach-ocean.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://bit.ly/2x0QcwB>

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	Naples, FL	65.61	51	101	15	41	61	1
2	Lahaina, HI	62.81	71	28	4	1	72	10
3	Newport Beach, CA	62.76	107	60	45	22	12	9
4	Carlsbad, CA	62.31	8	79	56	2	15	29
5	Boca Raton, FL	62.30	29	5	81	69	26	16
6	Sarasota, FL	62.27	42	26	106	71	51	3
7	North Myrtle Beach, SC	62.24	6	7	120	20	18	13
8	Encinitas, CA	62.07	7	78	30	7	33	32
9	Santa Monica, CA	61.26	140	36	94	16	48	2
10	Venice, FL	60.95	21	8	66	19	7	48
11	Jupiter, FL	60.93	11	21	76	11	46	87
12	Mill Valley, CA	60.48	115	47	13	44	1	34
13	Coronado, CA	59.85	15	83	16	17	16	51
14	Destin, FL	59.77	2	109	102	53	45	15
15	Laguna Beach, CA	59.21	121	54	85	3	22	24
16	Hermosa Beach, CA	58.66	98	44	17	21	19	36
17	Key Biscayne, FL	58.63	44	67	6	115	9	88
18	San Clemente, CA	58.58	64	50	42	8	41	46
19	Jacksonville Beach, FL	58.06	9	49	99	18	27	38
20	Coral Gables, FL	57.94	47	15	49	54	32	37
21	Vero Beach, FL	57.78	68	31	40	116	83	12
22	Fernandina Beach, FL	57.78	62	40	20	75	70	27
23	Morro Bay, CA	57.48	131	56	2	23	10	59
24	Myrtle Beach, SC	57.33	25	6	138	117	69	4
25	Seal Beach, CA	57.02	99	51	58	6	11	73
26	Santa Barbara, CA	57.00	144	82	59	34	91	6
27	Kihei, HI	56.95	76	29	57	49	39	26
28	Santa Cruz, CA	56.84	142	71	98	52	66	5
29	Edmonds, WA	56.65	59	13	53	12	44	80
30	Alameda, CA	56.52	94	84	62	9	21	45
31	St. Augustine, FL	56.47	80	33	72	108	57	14
32	Stuart, FL	56.40	20	41	87	33	139	20
33	Satellite Beach, FL	56.27	3	63	38	97	24	112
34	Redondo Beach, CA	56.23	101	65	28	38	43	42
35	San Mateo, CA	56.20	138	24	41	10	63	43
36	Manhattan Beach, CA	56.19	83	64	27	25	28	66
37	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA	56.09	50	127	35	48	55	28
38	Goleta, CA	56.00	96	48	36	13	37	77
39	Atlantic Beach, FL	55.96	39	12	74	59	40	64
40	Kailua, HI	55.72	110	104	46	5	105	17
41	Benicia, CA	55.59	17	4	75	42	52	84
42	Anacortes, WA	55.49	34	69	25	70	81	53
43	Key West, FL	55.44	70	139	26	90	110	7
44	Westport, CT	55.35	58	100	23	45	3	120
45	Rye, NY	55.31	78	95	1	27	17	124
46	Port Royal, SC	55.17	36	1	90	110	4	131
47	Marco Island, FL	55.00	12	143	14	103	13	57
48	Monterey, CA	55.00	129	58	88	55	73	18
49	Wilmington, NC	54.94	63	38	114	87	76	21
50	Dana Point, CA	54.87	81	52	31	28	86	49
51	Portland, ME	54.49	133	108	71	40	65	22
52	Pacific Grove, CA	54.27	125	57	3	35	64	67
53	Ocean City, NJ	54.09	91	110	24	65	122	19
54	Clearwater, FL	53.93	41	43	104	93	102	30
55	Dunedin, FL	53.72	27	105	65	96	62	50
56	Brunswick, ME	53.62	85	90	9	63	60	62
57	Miami Beach, FL	53.04	92	91	133	51	85	11
58	Cocoa Beach, FL	52.72	10	102	116	120	54	31
59	Panama City Beach, FL	52.70	16	88	136	26	144	8
60	Newburyport, MA	52.44	67	126	18	30	35	94
61	Port Washington, NY	52.24	45	134	8	56	29	113
62	Carpinteria, CA	52.08	95	73	11	89	88	65
63	South Portland, ME	51.92	104	111	78	15	53	76
64	Wantagh, NY	51.91	31	138	109	79	2	127
65	Port Lavaca, TX	51.78	28	9	48	67	124	116
66	Bonita Springs, FL	51.67	4	114	146	14	67	69
67	Pensacola, FL	51.63	53	70	101	129	121	23
68	Tarpon Springs, FL	51.61	14	107	96	105	31	85
69	Half Moon Bay, CA	51.60	100	27	97	50	87	44
70	Palos Verdes Estates, CA	51.58	66	118	22	98	36	98
71	New Smyrna Beach, FL	51.51	22	59	93	29	142	47
72	Ormond Beach, FL	51.44	38	17	107	62	115	60
73	Pacifica, CA	51.33	113	20	54	39	25	123
74	Delray Beach, FL	51.29	65	18	113	74	84	54
75	Daly City, CA	51.26	112	16	34	60	79	115
76	Jensen Beach, FL	51.19	30	94	142	47	42	81
77	Swampscott, MA	51.11	90	120	10	43	58	128
78	Fort Walton Beach, FL	50.97	13	103	80	114	132	40
79	Shoreline, WA	50.81	74	92	55	32	23	109
80	Kapolei, HI	50.72	102	34	100	31	50	55
81	Gulfport, FL	50.57	5	62	82	92	113	97
82	North Palm Beach, FL	50.24	24	42	43	124	108	105
83	Great Neck, NY	49.80	109	137	86	118	8	63
84	Hollywood, FL	49.73	57	72	79	113	106	70
85	Newport, RI	49.49	134	116	73	46	135	35
86	Ocean Springs, MS	49.46	19	99	111	132	47	82
87	Boynton Beach, FL	49.46	61	10	119	83	75	83
88	Gulf Shores, AL	49.32	35	142	118	81	78	25
89	Marina, CA	49.23	141	3	39	77	125	117
90	Wailuku, HI	49.02	120	35	4	84	103	61
91	South Yarmouth, MA	48.74	118	68	44	61	34	95
92	Burien, WA	48.62	89	92	95	4	80	111
93	Kaneohe, HI	48.56	123	25	117	24	89	72
94	Salem, MA	48.47	124	125	29	37	116	89
95	Melbourne, FL	48.34	26	45	130	85	112	75
96	Milford, CT	48.29	106	81	47	82	71	110
97	Gloucester, MA	48.21	122	129	37	36	100	86
98	Malibu, CA	48.09	146	122	91	128	20	39
99	Eureka, CA	48.01	75	2	122	106	118	68
100	Lompoc, CA	47.87	82	37	83	95	123	121
101	La Porte, TX	47.84	48	85	69	102	77	144
102	Ewa Beach, HI	47.80	108	22	103	57	59	108
103	Babylon, NY	47.74	18	141	50	101	68	96
104	New Rochelle, NY	47.66	136	87	21	58	99	140
105	Westerly, RI	47.52	130	112	60	121	38	78
106	Norwalk, CT	47.25	126	96	32	76	98	104
107	Merritt Island, FL	47.18	1	55	144	109	93	118
108	Navarre, FL	47.06	32	89	145	112	74	99
109	Mount Sinai, NY	46.98	40	128	137	136	6	143
110	Massapequa, NY	46.82	43	140	115	126	14	107
111	Capitola, CA	46.79	143	86	61	66	107	74
112	Stratford, CT	46.73	119	113	33	135	82	102
113	Hampton, VA	46.41	79	53	19	134	130	126
114	Glen Cove, NY	46.25	111	136	12	86	96	135
115	Watsonville, CA	45.96	135	30	70	100	113	114
116	Hallandale Beach, FL	45.93	72	76	92	64	134	103
117	Galveston, TX	45.87	87	145	89	68	129	41
118	Stony Brook, NY	45.54	52	130	127	143	5	122
119	Long Beach, NY	45.43	73	146	7	88	30	137
120	Revere, MA	45.16	139	124	51	72	90	139
121	Lynn, MA	45.11	132	123	77	78	111	130
122	Lake Worth, FL	44.86	84	19	125	137	101	91
123	Warwick, RI	44.81	97	117	68	91	138	100
124	Ventnor City, NJ	44.71	137	119	64	142	49	106
125	Patchogue, NY	44.47	86	131	52	130	117	71
126	Fort Pierce, FL	44.43	103	14	121	133	131	79
127	Waianae, HI	44.34	116	22	84	139	104	93
128	Hobe Sound, FL	44.03	56	32	112	73	143	125
129	Lantana, FL	43.86	33	74	105	140	126	132
130	Asbury Park, NJ	43.43	145	132	108	119	127	33
131	East Haven, CT	43.42	127	61	63	138	97	136
132	Daytona Beach, FL	43.42	69	39	134	122	145	52
133	Richmond, CA	43.23	117	80	123	94	94	133
134	Cocoa, FL	43.16	37	46	140	144	128	92
135	Biloxi, MS	43.02	49	115	129	107	140	90
136	Hudson, FL	42.98	46	98	128	123	136	119
137	Hilo, HI	42.83	128	106	139	99	141	56
138	Dania Beach, FL	42.59	93	77	110	111	133	101
139	Essex, MD	42.52	114	11	124	145	56	146
140	Apollo Beach, FL	42.17	23	121	143	80	92	138
141	Panama City, FL	41.71	54	66	135	131	146	58
142	Hull, MA	41.21	105	144	67	104	95	134
143	Riviera Beach, FL	40.56	55	74	132	125	120	141
144	Hampton Bays, NY	40.01	60	135	126	127	119	129
145	Shirley, NY	37.83	77	133	131	141	109	145
146	Holiday, FL	36.44	88	97	141	146	137	142

 

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/36567/geochart-beach-lake.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://bit.ly/2x0QcwB> 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	69.07	11	14	12	9	14	1
2	Folsom, CA	65.36	2	5	26	7	4	5
3	Cornelius, NC	64.55	1	6	15	6	3	15
4	Holland, MI	61.70	9	12	25	13	10	4
5	Kirkland, WA	61.31	18	30	14	2	6	10
6	Mercer Island, WA	60.73	16	30	13	4	1	20
7	Davidson, NC	60.51	3	9	4	1	7	26
8	Redmond, WA	59.85	19	30	32	3	2	9
9	Eden Prairie, MN	59.08	7	10	10	11	13	19
10	Bay Village, OH	59.06	8	3	1	30	8	34
11	Brookfield, WI	57.98	14	18	22	10	12	13
12	Rocky River, OH	57.65	30	2	6	12	9	22
13	Branson, MO	56.79	17	43	38	17	39	2
14	Pewaukee, WI	56.38	15	25	18	5	17	16
15	Mequon, WI	56.11	13	17	11	14	5	32
16	South Lake Tahoe, CA	55.42	42	23	34	22	23	3
17	Duluth, MN	54.92	32	13	27	21	19	8
18	Alpena, MI	54.69	24	1	16	35	15	12
19	Highland Park, IL	54.50	25	33	7	16	20	17
20	Loveland, CO	54.25	23	34	28	8	22	14
21	Lake Havasu City, AZ	53.25	6	7	35	18	16	18
22	Burlington, VT	53.01	44	37	23	23	11	7
23	Plattsburgh, NY	52.30	34	21	5	25	41	11
24	Vermilion, OH	51.43	29	11	2	34	25	36
25	Stoughton, WI	50.75	33	19	8	27	18	35
26	Laconia, NH	49.76	21	20	21	15	34	24
27	St. Cloud, FL	48.17	4	39	9	26	45	37
28	Shorewood, WI	48.02	39	45	3	28	21	21
29	Portage, IN	47.07	10	24	17	37	24	44
30	Kenosha, WI	47.00	35	28	20	33	32	23
31	Port Huron, MI	45.82	22	8	41	36	28	27
32	Michigan City, IN	44.97	5	27	37	40	30	29
33	Oak Creek, WI	44.75	38	42	19	20	29	41
34	Sebring, FL	44.53	28	36	40	41	46	6
35	Council Bluffs, IA	44.48	40	44	30	19	31	28
36	Lakewood, WA	43.09	37	15	46	31	27	30
37	Racine, WI	43.08	43	22	39	29	38	25
38	Gages Lake, IL	42.26	20	38	36	32	36	45
39	Ashtabula, OH	41.63	41	4	43	45	43	31
40	Oregon, OH	41.41	31	41	31	38	37	38
41	Lake Elsinore, CA	40.64	26	40	42	24	40	43
42	Zion, IL	39.69	46	29	33	39	26	42
43	Hope Mills, NC	39.67	27	35	44	43	35	39
44	Waukegan, IL	39.53	45	26	24	42	42	40
45	Lorain, OH	38.32	36	16	29	46	44	46
46	Morgan City, LA	34.47	12	46	45	44	33	33

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?

< >

• William Cohen Ph.D., FAICP – Professor, Temple University
• Kevin E. Trenberth Distinguished Senior Scientist in the Climate Analysis Section at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
• Robert Mccormick Professor of Economics at Clemson University

Methodology

In order to determine the best beach towns in America, WalletHub compared 192 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 62 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 (~3.50 Points)Note: This is a composite metric calculated as follows: a) Median House Price / Median Household Income b) Median Rent Price / Median Household Income
• Median Household Income: Full Weight (~1.75 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
• Median Property Taxes: Full Weight (~1.75 Points)Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Median Real Estate Tax / Median House Price.
• Average Flood Insurance Premium: Full Weight (~1.75 Points)
• Share of For-Sale Waterfront Homes: Full Weight (~1.75 Points)
• Share of For-Sale Homes with RV/Boat Parking: Full Weight (~1.75 Points)
• Share of For-Sale Homes with Swimming Pools: Full Weight (~1.75 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 Rate: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Income Growth Rate: 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 (~4.20 Points)Note: This metric is based on the share of public schools with above average GreatSchools.org rating.
• Share of Insured Population: Full Weight (~1.40 Points)
• Quality of Public Hospital System: Full Weight (~1.40 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 (~1.40 Points)
• Limited Access to Healthy Foods: Full Weight (~1.40 Points)Note: Limited Access to Healthy Foods is the share of the population that is low income and does not live close to a grocery store.
• Quality of Air: Full Weight (~1.40 Points)
• Quality of Drinking Water: Full Weight (~1.40 Points)
• Quality of Beach Water: Full Weight (~1.40 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 (~1.00 Points)
• Average Weekly Work Hours: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Number of Attractions: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Diversity of Attractions: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Nightlife Establishments per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Beaches” Ranking: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Restaurants per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Music Venues per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Breweries per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Festivals per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Coffee Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Cinemas per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Swimming Pools per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Public Beaches per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Boat Tours & Water Sports per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Surfing Spots per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Amusement Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Water Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Water Parks” List: Full Weight (~1.00 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 (~1.00 Points)
• Bike Score: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Running Trails per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Walking Trails per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Fitness Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Golf Courses per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Tennis Courts per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Beach Volleyball Courts per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Shopping Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)
• Spas per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.00 Points)

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 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, National Flood Insurance Program, GreatSchools.org, Natural Resources Defense Council, TransUnion, TripAdvisor, Yelp.com, Under Armour and WalletHub research.

Image: Andrii Orlov / Shutterstock.com

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