Best Beach Towns to Live in

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterJun 16, 2021

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer
Jun 16, 2021

Some of the states people moved to most in 2020 were Florida, North Carolina and Maine, all of which are in the top ten states with the largest coastlines. Many people don’t just want the beach experience for a week or two, though – they long to live on the waterfront. After all, beachside communities often represent a relaxed and luxurious way of life. Sadly, some people don’t pursue 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

In order to determine the beach communities that are ideal for making one’s permanent home, WalletHub compared 191 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.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Best Beach Towns to Live in (Ocean)

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Affordability	Weather	Safety	Economy	Education & Health	Quality of Life
1	Naples, FL	64.86	16	96	103	13	68	1
2	Laguna Beach, CA	63.63	83	53	20	10	24	19
3	Lahaina, HI	63.35	64	31	17	71	59	5
4	Newport Beach, CA	63.09	73	57	25	63	7	16
5	North Myrtle Beach, SC	62.93	20	9	92	7	10	18
6	Sarasota, FL	62.77	38	16	110	55	70	2
7	Kailua, HI	62.38	67	102	1	3	21	23
8	Boca Raton, FL	62.14	11	4	109	30	18	21
9	Destin, FL	61.58	6	109	98	65	15	11
10	Santa Monica, CA	61.26	123	38	72	57	49	3
11	Myrtle Beach, SC	60.60	50	8	112	88	58	4
12	Vero Beach, FL	60.21	49	34	68	76	93	8
13	Morro Bay, CA	60.17	96	54	5	74	3	50
14	Venice, FL	60.16	28	7	83	34	26	28
15	Santa Barbara, CA	60.03	118	78	7	69	92	10
16	Carlsbad, CA	60.02	27	79	24	43	17	38
17	Kihei, HI	59.65	52	31	17	47	27	25
18	Encinitas, CA	59.32	43	77	11	22	39	46
19	Santa Cruz, CA	59.13	135	70	50	60	64	7
20	San Clemente, CA	58.49	35	49	15	45	29	68
21	Hermosa Beach, CA	58.19	71	47	36	87	14	42
22	Jupiter, FL	57.98	3	21	108	9	43	63
23	San Mateo, CA	57.62	117	30	39	6	67	40
24	Jacksonville Beach, FL	57.56	13	48	124	2	5	51
25	Fernandina Beach, FL	57.37	37	43	63	56	91	26
26	Coronado, CA	57.37	33	81	10	93	13	77
27	Panama City Beach, FL	57.30	9	90	111	17	139	9
28	Satellite Beach, FL	57.29	1	59	102	118	9	91
29	Dana Point, CA	57.26	41	51	14	29	97	52
30	Goleta, CA	57.24	115	37	4	26	42	76
31	Redondo Beach, CA	57.03	95	69	31	73	37	35
32	Wilmington, NC	56.79	102	46	69	91	80	20
33	North Palm Beach, FL	56.57	5	39	104	95	4	115
34	Manhattan Beach, CA	56.55	98	67	28	27	25	64
35	Pensacola, FL	56.51	51	66	46	104	134	15
36	Alameda, CA	56.50	85	85	64	11	38	49
37	Gulf Shores, AL	56.26	19	139	71	5	30	30
38	Key West, FL	56.16	87	137	80	37	125	6
39	Half Moon Bay, CA	55.92	68	33	35	12	104	34
40	Westport, CT	55.86	15	99	52	8	19	120
41	Portland, ME	55.63	120	106	81	25	76	17
42	Seal Beach, CA	55.62	106	52	23	96	6	89
43	Monterey, CA	55.43	128	62	33	59	130	22
44	Benicia, CA	55.24	32	3	40	81	46	107
45	Stuart, FL	54.68	25	40	128	84	117	13
46	Rye, NY	54.56	99	92	37	77	1	117
47	Anacortes, WA	54.23	62	76	78	33	44	58
48	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA	54.15	59	126	53	35	61	37
49	Cocoa Beach, FL	53.86	8	100	115	113	28	31
50	Carpinteria, CA	53.86	105	65	3	133	87	66
51	Dunedin, FL	53.72	54	104	88	82	35	47
52	Clearwater, FL	53.71	66	42	107	98	94	27
53	Edmonds, WA	53.62	56	10	85	19	66	82
54	Mount Sinai, NY	53.59	34	128	54	105	1	136
55	Malibu, CA	53.40	91	124	47	137	16	36
56	Key Biscayne, FL	53.26	12	75	130	121	11	61
57	South Portland, ME	53.16	107	106	77	14	51	62
58	Pacifica, CA	53.10	81	25	26	50	57	119
59	Ewa Beach, HI	53.04	110	23	42	42	39	90
60	St. Augustine, FL	52.81	86	35	125	109	53	14
61	Great Neck, NY	52.79	132	136	60	38	8	41
62	Fort Walton Beach, FL	52.49	29	103	82	85	121	33
63	Palos Verdes Estates, CA	52.43	14	123	12	127	34	141
64	Bonita Springs, FL	52.40	4	110	136	1	99	84
65	Newport, RI	52.32	136	115	22	79	115	32
66	Coral Gables, FL	52.31	42	15	139	58	41	39
67	Kapolei, HI	52.26	94	28	42	41	55	57
68	Kaneohe, HI	52.21	60	24	42	20	54	97
69	Hilo, HI	52.18	111	101	1	83	50	56
70	Tarpon Springs, FL	52.12	22	108	106	72	32	80
71	Marco Island, FL	52.10	7	142	93	23	31	69
72	Pacific Grove, CA	51.93	119	61	9	120	82	67
73	Marina, CA	51.85	137	6	13	48	138	98
74	Ormond Beach, FL	51.82	44	17	129	24	77	53
75	Delray Beach, FL	51.79	39	19	117	49	101	54
76	Boynton Beach, FL	51.69	47	5	122	44	84	71
77	Port Washington, NY	51.66	100	133	32	31	22	99
78	Lompoc, CA	51.62	76	29	21	111	131	110
79	Merritt Island, FL	51.51	2	55	121	40	69	116
80	Wailuku, HI	51.50	108	36	17	90	90	48
81	Daly City, CA	51.48	116	18	34	46	74	133
82	New Smyrna Beach, FL	51.46	24	56	123	16	128	44
83	Navarre, FL	51.33	17	91	16	67	60	143
84	Wantagh, NY	50.77	55	138	60	103	12	106
85	Miami Beach, FL	50.54	70	94	145	75	65	12
86	Massapequa, NY	50.49	69	140	60	39	20	94
87	Melbourne, FL	50.45	23	44	120	61	103	72
88	Shoreline, WA	50.07	61	82	73	18	45	132
89	Atlantic Beach, FL	49.36	18	13	114	112	79	104
90	Ocean City, NJ	49.32	90	111	100	52	142	24
91	Milford, CT	49.30	93	89	89	36	36	118
92	Swampscott, MA	49.18	79	120	74	32	71	130
93	Warwick, RI	49.09	104	114	8	117	75	113
94	Port Royal, SC	49.05	77	1	66	86	129	145
95	Jensen Beach, FL	48.92	30	93	140	15	52	85
96	Gulfport, FL	48.90	26	63	105	70	107	92
97	Newburyport, MA	48.90	84	125	75	28	73	105
98	Hollywood, FL	48.74	48	73	116	97	78	79
99	Westerly, RI	48.74	121	112	6	135	100	78
100	Stratford, CT	48.63	125	113	65	62	102	108
101	Ocean Springs, MS	48.46	36	105	87	107	123	83
102	Panama City, FL	48.42	57	60	96	126	116	60
103	Brunswick, ME	48.41	109	88	70	139	83	65
104	Eureka, CA	48.23	89	2	99	130	124	59
105	New Rochelle, NY	48.16	143	84	51	66	96	124
106	Cocoa, FL	47.76	40	45	132	106	135	73
107	Revere, MA	47.76	124	117	48	101	88	121
108	Watsonville, CA	47.66	140	27	27	123	120	109
109	Lake Worth, FL	47.58	65	19	133	102	113	81
110	Capitola, CA	47.52	145	86	37	131	119	55
111	Waianae, HI	47.36	82	22	42	143	95	100
112	Gloucester, MA	47.26	122	127	79	68	48	96
113	Burien, WA	47.26	113	82	86	99	81	86
114	Hampton, VA	47.13	103	50	41	140	108	126
115	Glen Cove, NY	47.02	139	135	29	54	85	131
116	Babylon, NY	46.69	92	141	54	51	63	93
117	South Yarmouth, MA	46.62	127	64	49	132	112	103
118	La Porte, TX	46.02	53	87	76	89	137	144
119	Hobe Sound, FL	45.85	31	26	140	141	47	111
120	Hampton Bays, NY	45.69	97	134	54	21	118	123
121	Salem, MA	45.58	141	122	84	108	105	75
122	Ventnor City, NJ	45.56	129	116	90	144	62	95
123	Lantana, FL	45.46	45	71	126	64	133	127
124	Biloxi, MS	45.46	58	118	113	78	136	87
125	Norwalk, CT	45.40	138	97	67	94	114	112
126	Long Beach, NY	45.37	114	145	30	53	23	129
127	Patchogue, NY	45.22	142	129	54	80	111	70
128	Lynn, MA	44.74	126	121	95	119	86	122
129	Stony Brook, NY	44.74	112	130	54	145	33	125
130	Richmond, CA	44.70	134	80	91	110	110	128
131	Hallandale Beach, FL	44.35	72	68	119	129	126	88
132	Fort Pierce, FL	44.25	74	14	137	128	140	74
133	Daytona Beach, FL	44.14	88	41	142	115	141	45
134	Essex, MD	44.12	131	11	131	114	98	139
135	Galveston, TX	43.95	101	144	118	100	132	29
136	Dania Beach, FL	43.87	78	74	127	122	72	114
137	Asbury Park, NJ	43.50	144	132	97	138	122	43
138	East Haven, CT	42.85	133	58	94	124	109	135
139	Hull, MA	42.63	75	143	101	92	56	140
140	Apollo Beach, FL	42.48	10	119	144	4	89	137
141	Shirley, NY	42.38	130	131	54	134	106	142
142	Port Lavaca, TX	42.36	21	12	143	125	145	102
143	Hudson, FL	42.15	63	98	134	116	143	101
144	Riviera Beach, FL	40.49	46	71	138	136	127	134
145	Holiday, FL	38.22	80	95	134	142	144	138

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that town, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

artwork 2021 best beach towns to live in 1

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Best Beach Towns to Live in (Lake)

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Affordability	Weather	Safety	Economy	Education & Health	Quality of Life
1	Traverse City, MI	65.84	35	15	23	20	13	1
2	Folsom, CA	64.97	3	5	16	6	4	7
3	Redmond, WA	63.23	5	24	27	1	3	11
4	Mercer Island, WA	60.68	18	24	12	4	1	23
5	Cornelius, NC	60.53	1	7	20	10	16	17
6	Davidson, NC	60.07	4	10	28	3	2	21
7	Kirkland, WA	59.37	20	24	24	5	8	10
8	South Lake Tahoe, CA	58.87	34	21	18	18	25	3
9	Highland Park, IL	58.54	19	30	10	7	9	12
10	Brookfield, WI	58.28	8	20	9	13	5	15
11	Pewaukee, WI	57.71	25	32	6	2	12	20
12	Lake Havasu City, AZ	57.46	2	6	26	12	30	16
13	Rocky River, OH	56.88	9	2	15	11	7	35
14	Eden Prairie, MN	56.75	10	9	7	8	14	31
15	Duluth, MN	56.43	31	13	22	22	15	8
16	Mequon, WI	56.35	24	18	3	9	10	33
17	Loveland, CO	54.88	21	35	8	14	20	13
18	Alpena, MI	54.58	23	1	34	34	17	9
19	Holland, MI	54.53	13	12	44	16	19	4
20	Bay Village, OH	54.03	16	3	19	27	6	37
21	Stoughton, WI	53.96	33	19	2	31	18	27
22	Branson, MO	53.77	26	43	42	19	41	2
23	Plattsburgh, NY	52.78	27	23	1	24	46	14
24	Vermilion, OH	51.67	6	11	13	17	35	30
25	Burlington, VT	51.58	46	37	4	29	22	6
26	Laconia, NH	51.15	22	17	5	27	42	18
27	Oak Creek, WI	48.22	30	42	17	15	21	43
28	Oregon, OH	46.57	11	41	29	26	24	42
29	Shorewood, WI	46.09	41	45	14	32	11	34
30	Lake Elsinore, CA	46.02	12	39	11	25	38	38
31	Kenosha, WI	46.01	37	29	33	35	36	19
32	Gages Lake, IL	45.88	28	36	30	30	31	46
33	St. Cloud, FL	45.18	15	40	21	23	44	39
34	Lakewood, WA	43.70	38	16	37	33	33	28
35	Sebring, FL	43.62	36	33	36	45	43	5
36	Racine, WI	42.65	42	22	35	42	26	22
37	Waukegan, IL	42.03	44	27	31	41	23	36
38	Lorain, OH	41.56	39	14	25	40	39	44
39	Zion, IL	40.80	45	28	32	36	32	40
40	Michigan City, IN	40.50	14	34	43	39	40	25
41	Ashtabula, OH	40.24	43	4	38	44	37	24
42	Portage, IN	39.71	29	31	41	38	29	45
43	Council Bluffs, IA	39.65	40	44	40	21	28	32
44	Port Huron, MI	39.33	32	8	46	37	34	29
45	Hope Mills, NC	38.38	17	38	39	43	45	41
46	Morgan City, LA	32.64	7	46	45	46	27	26

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that town, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

artwork 2021 best beach towns to live in lakes

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:

What should people look for in choosing a beach property?
Is it better to live in a beach town with a large year-round population compared to those with a more seasonal population?
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?
With the coronavirus crisis having such a large impact on beach town economies, what are some measures that can be taken to reopen beaches, state parks and local businesses safely?
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?

Ask the Experts

David Fiorenza
Assistant Professor of the Practice, Economics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences – Villanova University
Read More

John Yeressian
Professor of Real Estate, Business Division – El Camino College
Read More

Stuart Norton
Data Analytics Coordinator, Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE), Culverhouse College of Business – University of Alabama
Read More

Jon A. Baumunk
Lecturer, Charles W. Lamden School of Accountancy, Fowler College of Business – San Diego State University
Read More

Methodology

In order to determine the best beach towns in America, WalletHub compared 191 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

Average Daily COVID-19 Deaths in the Past Week per Capita: Double Weight (~4.00 Points)
Average Daily COVID-19 Cases in the Past Week per Capita: Double Weight (~4.00 Points)
Violent Crime Rate: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
Property Crime Rate: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
Lifeguards per Capita: Full Weight (~2.00 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 an 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 average percentage of days with potentially unsafe water for beaches. Beach sites are considered “potentially unsafe” if samples 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 (~1.03 Points)
Average Weekly Work Hours: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Number of Attractions: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Diversity of Attractions: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Nightlife Establishments per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Beaches” Ranking: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of a city on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Beaches” List.
Restaurants per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Music Venues per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Breweries per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Festivals per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Coffee Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Cinemas per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Swimming Pools per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Public Beaches per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Boat Tours & Water Sports per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Surfing Spots per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Amusement Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Water Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Water Parks” List: Full Weight (~1.03 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 (~1.03 Points)
Bike Score: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Walkability: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Fitness Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Golf Courses per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Tennis Courts per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Beach Volleyball Courts per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Shopping Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 Points)
Spas per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.03 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, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Walk Score, AreaVibes, Renwood RealtyTrac, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, United States Environmental Protection Agency, County Health Rankings, National Flood Insurance Program, GreatSchools.org, TransUnion, TripAdvisor, Yelp.com, Environment America and WalletHub research.

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