Have you ever considered relocating to a lake town on the East Coast? Key findings from an in-house GOBankingRates study reveal a monthly budget of $2,931 to $3,722 can cover the monthly cost of living in 20 scenic escapes.
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GOBankingRates determined the most affordable U.S. lake towns by studying rankings compiled by Travel + Leisure, Thrillist and MSN. We utilized the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey to calculate average expenditure costs. The total cost of living monthly was calculated using each town’s average mortgage and expenditure costs.
Find out which 20 lake towns are the most affordable lake towns on the East Coast. And don’t forget to review our ranking of America’s 20 most affordable lake towns.
1. Henderson, North Carolina
- Median household income: $38,780
- Average single-family home value: $187,277
- Total cost of living (monthly): $2,931
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2. Augusta, Georgia
- Median household income: $53,134
- Average single-family home value: $174,452
- Total cost of living (monthly): $2,936
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3. Erie, Pennsylvania
- Median household income: $43,397
- Average single-family home value: $192,589
- Total cost of living (monthly): $2,967
4. Sumter, South Carolina
- Median household income: $53,071
- Average single-family home value: $200,412
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,044
5. Seneca Falls, New York
- Median household income: $54,429
- Average single-family home value: $194,103
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,057
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6. Palatka, Florida
- Median household income: $33,628
- Average single-family home value: $206,953
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,102
7. Auburn, New York
- Median household income: $49,377
- Average single-family home value: $210,008
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,184
8. Plattsburgh, New York
- Median household income: $53,962
- Average single-family home value: $237,886
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,249
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9. Geneva, New York
- Median household income: $68,242
- Average single-family home value: $213,782
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,253
10. Syracuse, New York
- Median household income: $45,845
- Average single-family home value: $207,151
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,295
11. Columbia, South Carolina
- Median household income: $55,653
- Average single-family home value: $230,189
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,321
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12. Sebring, Florida
- Median household income: $42,072
- Average single-family home value: $247,076
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,339
13. White Lake, North Carolina
- Median household income: $76,667
- Average single-family home value: $247,404
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,370
14. Oakland, Maryland
- Median household income: $59,904
- Average single-family home value: $305,264
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,467
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15. Hope Mills, North Carolina
- Median household income: $60,671
- Average single-family home value: $256,735
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,471
16. Ocala, Florida
- Median household income: $53,520
- Average single-family home value: $277,012
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,508
17. Gastonia, North Carolina
- Median household income: $60,554
- Average single-family home value: $281,552
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,547
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18. Seneca, South Carolina
- Median household income: $52,207
- Average single-family home value: $302,748
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,640
19. Clarksville, Virginia
- Median household income: $62,969
- Average single-family home value: $309,978
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,650
20. Pittsfield, Massachusetts
- Median household income: $68,386
- Average single-family home value: $306,388
- Total cost of living (monthly): $3,722
See more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.
Photo disclaimer: Photos are for illustrative purposes only. In many cases, the closest major city outside of the city/county mentioned in the article was used.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates identified the 20 most affordable lake towns to live in across the United States. The initial list of towns was compiled using rankings from Travel + Leisure’s Best Lake Towns in America, MSN’s Best Lake Towns to Live in America and Thrillist’s Best Lake Town Destinations in America. Once the locations were selected, GOBankingRates analyzed several key data points sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, including total population, percentage of residents age 65 and over, median household income and total number of households. Cost-of-living indexes were obtained from Sperling’s BestPlaces. To estimate average household expenditures, national data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey was used. Home affordability was assessed using the Zillow Home Value Index for single-family homes. Assuming a 10% down payment and a national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 6.56% (as reported by the Federal Reserve Economic Data on Sept. 2, 2025), average monthly mortgage costs were calculated for each town. By combining mortgage costs with estimated household expenditures, the total cost of living for basic necessities was determined. The towns were then ranked from most to least affordable. All data is current as of Sept. 3, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 20 Most Affordable East Coast Lake Towns
