The 2 Carolina Cities With The Most Affordable Beach Homes

Looking to purchase a beach house? You're in luck. A recent study by Realtor.com ranked the cities that are the most cost-effective for those looking for a vacation home. And on the list were two Carolina cities with the most affordable beach homes.

Let's face it, many more of us would own beach homes if it wasn't so pricey! Though in this economy who can even afford one home?

The team at Realtor.com recently set out to determine the most affordable beach towns for homebuyers for 2024. Just in case you're looking to make that dream a reality. (If you are can we be friends?)

They just recently released a list of the 10 Most Affordable Beach Towns in America. So how did they do this?

They started by creating a list of coastal cities and towns and then ranked them by median list prices in March for single-family homes. Only cities with at least 25 active listings for the month were included.

To be considered a beach town" in the final list each city or town had to include a "sandy, public-access ocean beach within the city limits". Additionally, only one beach town per state was allowed to be included in the top 10 rankings.

Ranking highest on the list was South Carolina. And the most affordable beach homes are found in.... Myrtle Beach. Considering Myrtle Beach is a relatively large city for a "beach town" this does makes sense.

The March 2024 median list price for a home in Myrtle Beach was $299,500. Hmm, perhaps I should move to the beach?

With a population of 38,000 plus at the last census, and large amounts of visitors and summertime residents, there is going to be an abundance of housing available. In fact, I know numerous people with homes in and around the Myrtle Beach area. It does have a lot to offer. And if you get bored there, you're doing it wrong!

When it comes to North Carolina, the city with the most affordable beach homes is not quite as well known. It's Sunset Beach. The median price for a home here in March is $340,000. So not as cheap as Myrtle.

But it's still not too bad, and especially considering the gorgeous location on the Brunswick Islands. Sunset Beach is more laid back than Myrtle. Though I wouldn't turn down a stay at either location!

Thanks to our friends at Realtor.com for sharing their research with us. You can read the full study and see the other cities with affordable beach homes here. If you need me I'll be daydreaming about the ocean.

Whether you prefer the beach or a lake it's hard not to love being by the water as the weather gets warmer. And here in North Carolina, we have numerous beaches, and lakes that offer water lovers a haven to spend their time. And of course, the best is subjective. Not every beach town or lake offers the same experiences. And personal preference varies as to what the most important offerings of these spots. But when Southern Living makes their pick for the best waterfront town in North Carolina, I take their opinion seriously.

After all who knows the South better than the experts at and the readers of Southern Living? Readers of Southern Living actually voted on this list as part of the publication's South's Best Awards. One of the categories voted on was the reader's favorite waterfront town in the South. In total fifteen towns were recognized one in each of the "southern" states. Here's how the voting process worked according to Southern Living. "An online survey was conducted by third-party agency Proof Insights among Southern Living consumers, asking them to rate their favorite places across the South for the South's Best Awards 2024. The survey was fielded from July 12 to August 23, 2023, and had over 20,000 respondents."

And what they chose as the best waterfront town in North Carolina is certainly a local favorite not just in this survey. In fact, my biggest complaint about this town is simply that it's too crowded to find parking if you aren't staying there. And it's a beach that many people commute to both locals and tourists. Do you know which waterfront town in North Carolina I'm talking about? Keep reading to find out. And also learn about the best waterfront towns in some neighboring states as well. This includes towns in South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida. Who knows maybe your new favorite vacation destination is about to be discovered. They are all a reasonable drive for a quick or long weekend getaway. Interested in the full Southern Living list? You can read that here.

Locals, UNC Wilmington students, and visitors all adore Wrightsville Beach. It's less than 10 minutes from Wilmington making it one of the most accessible beach towns the state has to offer. Wrightsville is a favorite of surfers and is an ideal spot for a number of outdoor activities. The walkable town (again the parking is not so great) is home to beach boutiques and surf shops as well as fantastic restaurants. A favorite of mine (and countless others) is Dockside which is located right on the water.

The argument could have been made for numerous South Carolina towns. But ultimately the winner is the resort town of Hilton Head Island. Located in the South Carolina Lowcountry Hilton Head Island is a laid-back coastal paradise full of resorts, nature, pristine beaches, and some notable restaurants. Did you even visit Hilton Head if you haven't paid The Salty Dog a visit?

Since Tennesee is landlocked you knew this wasn't going to be a beachfront town. But would Gatlinburg be your first guess? It wouldn't have been mine. But turns out Gatlinburg is located on the Pigeon River and rafting as well as other activities are popular amongst tourists. Gatlinburg is certainly a tourist hotspot, nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains. There is certainly no shortage of things to do here!

St. Simons Island one of Georgia's barrier islands known as the Golden Isles is the state's best waterfront town. Here you'll find island streets bordered by Spanish moss-draped live oaks. Visitors love the beaches (obviously) as well as museums, golf courses, shops, and restaurants. Choose to stay in a quaint inn or luxurious resort. There are no bad decisions here.

With other states having slightly more "under the radar" spots as their best waterfront town I was a little surprised Virginia Beach was named. Now let me preface that with I've never visited so I do not have an opinion on the town or city in this case. I just know it's much larger than other destinations on this list. Virginia Beach is a popular tourist hotspot on the Virginia coast. There every season is "beach season" and there is no shortage of things do from activities, to places to say, miles of beach to visit, or restaurants to check out.

I've paid a quick visit to the nation's oldest city located right on the Atlantic Ocean. It boasts 450 years of history, brick-lined streets, historical sites, and restaurants, all in a waterfront location. The city is gorgeous and full of historic building which I adore. Learn more about visiting St. Augustine here.