Adam McCann, Financial Writer

Jun 17, 2020

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.

While beaches across the U.S. closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to avoid spreading the disease in crowded conditions, the first people to get access again were local residents. People not from beach towns often had to wait longer for a full reopening. In addition, many states temporarily banned short-term rentals, with further limited outsiders’ access to beaches. Residents of beach towns were therefore able to enjoy less crowded conditions than usual, at least for a short time.

In order to determine the beach communities that are ideal for making one’s permanent home, WalletHub compared 191 cities across 63 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.

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 Naples, FL 62.50 30 100 69 43 84 1 2 Lahaina, HI 61.25 68 31 2 34 45 8 3 Boca Raton, FL 60.96 17 5 85 13 57 16 4 Newport Beach, CA 60.01 69 56 44 44 12 13 5 Santa Monica, CA 59.87 122 26 108 15 29 3 6 Sarasota, FL 59.68 46 24 116 58 71 2 7 Kailua, HI 59.60 28 103 53 1 40 20 8 Carlsbad, CA 58.94 22 69 66 8 19 27 9 Encinitas, CA 58.23 24 66 36 21 14 33 10 Vero Beach, FL 58.22 55 33 19 49 102 12 11 Santa Barbara, CA 58.01 114 82 39 38 74 6 12 Destin, FL 58.00 5 111 101 56 46 14 13 North Myrtle Beach, SC 57.61 23 10 129 5 26 10 14 Laguna Beach, CA 57.06 83 53 75 29 42 22 15 Fernandina Beach, FL 56.61 54 40 25 66 76 25 16 San Clemente, CA 56.40 42 48 46 23 15 52 17 Venice, FL 56.35 39 8 87 33 13 44 18 Hermosa Beach, CA 56.23 64 30 11 18 47 39 19 Seal Beach, CA 56.16 93 52 65 7 4 59 20 Myrtle Beach, SC 56.10 47 7 141 68 90 4 21 Jupiter, FL 55.72 6 21 83 10 80 63 22 Santa Cruz, CA 55.33 132 70 92 78 49 5 23 Westport, CT 55.14 9 93 23 25 11 114 24 Satellite Beach, FL 55.13 2 65 31 50 31 99 25 San Mateo, CA 55.10 130 18 47 3 55 37 26 Coronado, CA 55.03 43 74 16 62 22 48 27 Alameda, CA 54.85 81 81 58 6 37 42 28 Dana Point, CA 54.59 51 50 34 52 66 45 29 Atlantic Beach, FL 54.57 11 15 43 86 51 67 30 Key Biscayne, FL 54.47 26 64 7 111 64 76 31 Stuart, FL 54.46 18 43 81 73 141 17 32 Kihei, HI 54.43 80 31 42 101 21 26 33 Redondo Beach, CA 54.37 101 61 27 40 59 36 34 St. Augustine, FL 54.14 73 37 78 85 79 15 35 Morro Bay, CA 54.12 117 55 3 26 34 58 36 Key West, FL 53.90 92 138 38 59 114 7 37 Goleta, CA 53.72 111 46 15 22 32 66 38 Jacksonville Beach, FL 53.66 12 51 96 37 70 40 39 Manhattan Beach, CA 53.55 86 60 24 20 65 64 40 San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA 53.50 62 126 26 47 39 32 41 Portland, ME 53.46 129 109 79 31 36 23 42 Anacortes, WA 53.19 36 71 30 76 53 60 43 North Palm Beach, FL 53.07 4 42 33 17 121 105 44 Coral Gables, FL 52.86 38 14 52 91 89 43 45 Monterey, CA 52.63 137 58 90 51 69 19 46 Edmonds, WA 52.43 52 13 57 45 41 83 47 Ocean City, NJ 52.15 113 112 20 71 106 24 48 Clearwater, FL 51.68 59 38 98 81 111 30 49 Pacifica, CA 51.64 72 17 59 27 24 112 50 Pensacola, FL 51.56 45 72 103 115 129 18 51 Benicia, CA 51.53 37 4 80 90 30 93 52 Miami Beach, FL 51.49 70 89 132 48 101 11 53 Cocoa Beach, FL 51.45 8 101 93 98 103 31 54 Newburyport, MA 51.37 77 125 14 16 6 96 55 Half Moon Bay, CA 51.22 103 22 74 30 77 41 56 Ormond Beach, FL 50.93 34 23 100 24 113 62 57 Wilmington, NC 50.88 96 39 124 88 110 21 58 Pacific Grove, CA 50.82 123 57 9 100 61 53 59 Port Lavaca, TX 50.70 14 9 63 67 122 118 60 Dunedin, FL 50.62 49 105 73 63 95 50 61 Swampscott, MA 50.54 79 119 8 87 17 127 62 South Portland, ME 50.50 112 109 76 12 25 77 63 Panama City Beach, FL 50.48 16 88 137 65 144 9 64 Tarpon Springs, FL 50.46 15 106 89 53 67 85 65 Brunswick, ME 50.45 91 87 17 105 20 79 66 Rye, NY 50.43 85 92 5 128 5 125 67 Bonita Springs, FL 50.13 3 116 142 4 82 80 68 Shoreline, WA 50.07 61 98 50 11 28 102 69 Carpinteria, CA 50.02 127 73 4 119 54 70 70 Daly City, CA 49.81 116 12 37 36 72 117 71 New Smyrna Beach, FL 49.77 31 62 94 35 138 46 72 Port Washington, NY 49.67 95 133 10 28 16 110 73 Jensen Beach, FL 49.62 25 94 143 2 52 88 74 Palos Verdes Estates, CA 49.23 32 117 18 135 33 98 75 Marina, CA 49.23 128 3 45 46 120 94 76 Gulf Shores, AL 49.21 35 141 104 9 86 28 77 Fort Walton Beach, FL 49.08 19 104 82 106 135 38 78 Boynton Beach, FL 48.94 58 6 118 55 104 78 79 Malibu, CA 48.88 108 118 102 113 8 34 80 Delray Beach, FL 48.61 53 19 115 93 108 55 81 Hollywood, FL 48.52 41 75 77 103 125 65 82 Salem, MA 48.42 133 122 21 54 60 84 83 Marco Island, FL 48.40 13 142 70 114 48 56 84 Gulfport, FL 48.31 10 68 54 99 123 97 85 Milford, CT 48.28 76 76 60 75 35 111 86 Kaneohe, HI 48.24 50 28 120 14 83 86 87 Newport, RI 47.89 138 113 71 104 107 29 88 Lompoc, CA 47.76 82 36 62 109 105 116 89 Kapolei, HI 47.26 97 35 105 57 73 49 90 New Rochelle, NY 47.13 143 85 13 32 78 132 91 Gloucester, MA 47.10 131 127 32 61 44 87 92 Norwalk, CT 47.04 102 90 29 69 85 107 93 South Yarmouth, MA 46.94 124 63 40 92 9 108 94 Stratford, CT 46.92 110 108 28 126 68 106 95 Melbourne, FL 46.87 27 44 126 72 130 71 96 Eureka, CA 46.75 88 2 109 108 97 68 97 Great Neck, NY 46.49 140 136 91 94 7 51 98 Wailuku, HI 45.85 118 47 1 133 81 61 99 La Porte, TX 45.78 44 86 61 89 116 143 100 Lynn, MA 45.70 136 121 64 80 56 128 101 Hampton, VA 45.44 90 49 22 131 126 122 102 Ocean Springs, MS 45.33 40 96 107 138 62 75 103 Ewa Beach, HI 45.28 89 27 97 123 50 91 104 Westerly, RI 45.15 120 107 56 140 27 74 105 Revere, MA 45.08 139 124 51 64 38 137 106 Mount Sinai, NY 45.05 33 128 135 139 2 135 107 Capitola, CA 45.01 145 84 35 84 96 72 108 Port Royal, SC 44.96 104 1 67 129 115 145 109 Burien, WA 44.89 121 98 95 42 58 104 110 Ventnor City, NJ 44.81 135 120 41 124 63 100 111 Warwick, RI 44.78 100 115 68 83 117 101 112 Navarre, FL 44.59 7 91 145 82 93 138 113 Lake Worth, FL 44.50 84 19 119 118 119 92 114 Galveston, TX 44.48 94 144 88 60 137 35 115 Wantagh, NY 44.46 71 137 111 134 3 115 116 Glen Cove, NY 44.42 125 135 12 96 75 133 116 Merritt Island, FL 44.42 1 59 144 122 128 119 118 Hilo, HI 44.41 105 102 139 74 91 57 119 Long Beach, NY 44.40 109 145 6 41 18 131 120 Hallandale Beach, FL 44.10 78 78 99 79 133 103 121 Babylon, NY 44.00 56 140 84 127 23 90 122 Cocoa, FL 43.85 29 45 136 121 139 81 123 Watsonville, CA 43.39 142 29 49 125 98 123 124 Waianae, HI 43.29 66 25 86 143 100 95 125 Daytona Beach, FL 43.04 87 41 134 107 143 47 126 Patchogue, NY 42.90 134 130 48 112 94 69 127 Lantana, FL 42.48 20 79 133 77 127 130 128 Hudson, FL 42.48 57 97 117 97 131 120 129 Massapequa, NY 42.43 98 139 113 120 10 109 130 Richmond, CA 42.16 126 77 122 70 87 129 131 East Haven, CT 41.98 115 54 55 141 88 140 132 Panama City, FL 41.98 63 67 125 102 145 73 133 Biloxi, MS 41.97 67 114 123 95 140 89 134 Fort Pierce, FL 41.97 107 16 114 136 134 82 135 Hull, MA 41.48 75 143 72 117 43 139 136 Hobe Sound, FL 41.48 48 34 112 116 142 126 137 Dania Beach, FL 41.33 65 83 110 110 132 113 138 Apollo Beach, FL 41.28 21 123 138 39 109 134 139 Essex, MD 41.18 119 11 121 130 118 144 140 Hampton Bays, NY 40.42 106 134 128 19 99 121 141 Stony Brook, NY 39.63 99 129 127 145 1 124 142 Asbury Park, NJ 38.23 144 131 106 144 112 54 143 Riviera Beach, FL 37.80 60 79 130 132 124 136 144 Holiday, FL 37.34 74 95 140 137 136 141 145 Shirley, NY 34.37 141 132 131 142 92 142





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 66.88 31 16 8 17 14 1 2 Folsom, CA 61.65 3 5 29 6 6 5 3 Redmond, WA 59.49 10 23 30 1 2 9 4 Holland, MI 59.28 21 12 24 7 11 4 5 Cornelius, NC 59.24 1 6 15 16 7 17 6 Kirkland, WA 59.16 18 23 19 3 4 7 7 Mercer Island, WA 58.49 15 23 20 2 1 19 8 Rocky River, OH 57.57 9 2 2 21 13 25 9 Davidson, NC 57.31 4 10 5 5 17 22 10 Pewaukee, WI 55.79 16 32 22 4 9 16 11 Brookfield, WI 55.51 14 22 18 9 8 13 12 Eden Prairie, MN 55.30 17 9 16 8 5 24 13 Lake Havasu City, AZ 55.20 2 7 32 12 22 18 14 Bay Village, OH 54.88 7 3 1 31 19 36 15 Highland Park, IL 53.81 8 29 11 19 20 14 16 Duluth, MN 53.42 33 13 26 22 15 10 17 Alpena, MI 53.31 29 1 13 36 12 11 18 South Lake Tahoe, CA 52.93 38 20 41 11 21 3 19 Mequon, WI 52.31 12 18 14 20 3 35 20 Loveland, CO 51.99 22 35 17 15 18 15 21 Burlington, VT 51.85 45 39 12 18 10 6 22 Branson, MO 50.93 26 43 46 32 39 2 23 Stoughton, WI 50.75 40 19 3 14 23 33 24 Vermilion, OH 50.44 11 11 4 30 26 37 25 Plattsburgh, NY 50.21 19 33 6 34 33 12 26 Laconia, NH 49.88 25 17 9 13 40 21 27 St. Cloud, FL 47.68 5 37 10 23 45 38 28 Kenosha, WI 45.59 35 27 23 29 37 20 29 Shorewood, WI 45.04 42 45 7 25 16 28 30 Oak Creek, WI 44.36 37 42 21 10 25 42 31 Lakewood, WA 43.94 28 14 42 24 24 26 32 Sebring, FL 42.60 32 31 35 39 46 8 33 Oregon, OH 42.31 13 40 31 28 38 40 34 Port Huron, MI 41.65 30 8 40 40 31 31 35 Portage, IN 41.04 24 30 28 42 28 44 36 Racine, WI 40.58 44 21 33 33 41 23 37 Ashtabula, OH 40.16 41 4 39 41 43 32 38 Michigan City, IN 40.12 20 34 44 35 36 27 39 Lake Elsinore, CA 40.08 23 38 37 26 29 41 40 Waukegan, IL 39.60 43 26 25 38 35 39 41 Council Bluffs, IA 37.97 39 44 36 27 32 30 42 Lorain, OH 37.43 36 15 27 43 42 46 43 Gages Lake, IL 36.90 34 36 43 37 30 45 44 Hope Mills, NC 36.84 27 41 38 46 44 29 45 Zion, IL 34.95 46 28 34 44 27 43 46 Morgan City, LA 33.11 6 46 45 45 34 34

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?

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 63 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. Data for metrics marked with two asterisks (**) were available only at the state level.

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

WalletHub “States Offering the Most Coronavirus Support” Score**: Triple Weight (~3.23 Points)

Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “ States Offering the Most Coronavirus Support ” ranking.

Quality of School System: Triple Weight (~3.23 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 (~1.08 Points)

Quality of Public Hospital System: Full Weight (~1.08 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 (~1.08 Points)

Limited Access to Healthy Foods: Full Weight (~1.08 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 (~1.080 Points)

Quality of Drinking Water: Full Weight (~1.08 Points)

Quality of Beach Water: Full Weight (~1.08 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)



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.

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