Best City in Every State To Get a Vacation Home for Under $300,000

Owning a second home for either frequent weekend getaways or a long annual vacation sounds appealing, doesn’t it? Though this sort of wishful real estate thinking may seem out of the picture when you visualize your financial future, there are many places where you can still afford a vacation destination for under $300,000. When you are planning your next trip or even your long-term retirement goals, real estate just might be the next investment you should make. 

GOBankingRates recently did a study to find cities in each state where you can still find properties for less than $300,000, based on such factors as number of houses, average home value and household incomes. As this was an assessment of second or vacation houses, this study focused on single-family homes. Here are some key takeaways on why you should consider investing in vacation homes if financially able:

• Even though it is more expensive upfront, having a permanent place to stay on vacation will save you money on hotels and other travel expenses in the long run.
• You could use your second home as a source of passive income by renting it out when not using it. 
• If you use it to host your friends and family for holidays or other events it can save everyone money and travel expenses. 
• It makes getting away or even planning your next trip seem less stressful or financially burdensome.
• Not only does buying one give you a change of scenery but there may be certain tax advantages offered on your vacation home. 

Here are the best cities in each state to get a vacation home for under $300,000.

Have a little more to spend? Here are the top recommended cities to buy a $1 million vacation home.

• Population: 215,025
• Average home value (single family): $287,351
• Household median income: $67,874
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,683
• Total annual cost of living: $43,752

• Population: 2,260
• Average home value (single family): $254,858
• Household median income: $58,357
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,492
• Total annual cost of living: $45,370

• Population: 33,052
• Average home value (single family): $273,994
• Household median income: $56,360
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,604
• Total annual cost of living: $42,847

• Population: 1,513
• Average home value (single family): $148,578
• Household median income: $48,021
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $870
• Total annual cost of living: $31,212

• Population: 28,118
• Average home value (single family): $275,422
• Household median income: $85,872
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,613
• Total annual cost of living: $44,009

• Population: 3,850
• Average home value (single family): $150,231
• Household median income: $31,418
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $880
• Total annual cost of living: $32,255

• Population: 17,762
• Average home value (single family): $249,255
• Household median income: $45,723
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,459
• Total annual cost of living: $42,552

• Population: 6,194
• Average home value (single family): $231,263
• Household median income: $70,773
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,354
• Total annual cost of living: $41,417

• Population: 2,371
• Average home value (single family): $269,225
• Household median income: $55,227
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,576
• Total annual cost of living: $44,338

• Population: 6,638
• Average home value (single family): $296,710
• Household median income: $44,950
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,737
• Total annual cost of living: $47,172

• Population: 1,897
• Average home value (single family): $292,459
• Household median income: $59,432
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,712
• Total annual cost of living: $51,668

• Population: 3,124
• Average home value (single family): $298,235
• Household median income: $44,301
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,746
• Total annual cost of living: $41,944

• Population: 2,194
• Average home value (single family): $143,285
• Household median income: $52,083
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $839
• Total annual cost of living: $32,895

• Population: 264,514
• Average home value (single family): $235,574
• Household median income: $58,233
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,379
• Total annual cost of living: $38,172

• Population: 59,315
• Average home value (single family): $231,075
• Household median income: $63,520
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,353
• Total annual cost of living: $38,410

• Population: 54,287
• Average home value (single family): $272,640
• Household median income: $55,316
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,596
• Total annual cost of living: $41,590

• Population: 5,596
• Average home value (single family): $242,695
• Household median income: $66,741
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,421
• Total annual cost of living: $40,545

• Population: 140,046
• Average home value (single family): $296,996
• Household median income: $72,070
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,739
• Total annual cost of living: $45,651

• Population: 5,597
• Average home value (single family): $281,951
• Household median income: $53,896
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,651
• Total annual cost of living: $41,776

• Population: 66,321
• Average home value (single family): $218,926
• Household median income: $61,217
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,282
• Total annual cost of living: $40,088

• Population: 155,305
• Average home value (single family): $285,300
• Household median income: $47,677
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,671
• Total annual cost of living: $44,175

• Population: 11,388
• Average home value (single family): $289,081
• Household median income: $82,713
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,693
• Total annual cost of living: $43,914

• Population: 4,910
• Average home value (single family): $247,060
• Household median income: $66,394
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,447
• Total annual cost of living: $36,948

• Population: 18,417
• Average home value (single family): $265,366
• Household median income: $72,500
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,554
• Total annual cost of living: $41,522

• Population: 8,205
• Average home value (single family): $267,270
• Household median income: $58,448
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,565
• Total annual cost of living: $41,569

• Population: 3,208
• Average home value (single family): $258,448
• Household median income: $65,850
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,513
• Total annual cost of living: $39,690

• Population: 63,336
• Average home value (single family): $287,459
• Household median income: $79,839
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,683
• Total annual cost of living: $44,140

• Population: 2,366
• Average home value (single family): $186,168
• Household median income: $68,207
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,090
• Total annual cost of living: $37,083

• Population: 13,018
• Average home value (single family): $258,631
• Household median income: $53,697
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,514
• Total annual cost of living: $40,613

• Population: 2,904
• Average home value (single family): $185,326
• Household median income: $68,125
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,085
• Total annual cost of living: $36,785

• Population: 9,650
• Average home value (single family): $232,805
• Household median income: $36,853
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,363
• Total annual cost of living: $36,825

• Population: 3,065
• Average home value (single family): $225,891
• Household median income: $52,794
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,323
• Total annual cost of living: $40,547

• Population: 297,202
• Average home value (single family): $269,906
• Household median income: $55,051
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,580
• Total annual cost of living: $40,568

• Population: 2,102
• Average home value (single family): $187,619
• Household median income: $67,813
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,099
• Total annual cost of living: $34,014

• Population: 13,649
• Average home value (single family): $266,879
• Household median income: $91,960
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,563
• Total annual cost of living: $40,506

• Population: 127,701
• Average home value (single family): $259,886
• Household median income: $62,849
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,522
• Total annual cost of living: $42,157

• Population: 13,097
• Average home value (single family): $284,479
• Household median income: $52,039
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,666
• Total annual cost of living: $41,901

• Population: 6,071
• Average home value (single family): $291,409
• Household median income: $56,008
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,706
• Total annual cost of living: $44,903

Your Savings Right Now

• Population: 25,267
• Average home value (single family): $294,671
• Household median income: $75,565
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,725
• Total annual cost of living: $42,793

• Population: 11,667
• Average home value (single family): $247,043
• Household median income: $47,813
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,447
• Total annual cost of living: $39,144

• Population: 70,720
• Average home value (single family): $284,664
• Household median income: $53,173
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,667
• Total annual cost of living: $41,500

• Population: 2,095
• Average home value (single family): $297,126
• Household median income: $90,119
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,740
• Total annual cost of living: $42,231

• Population: 10,141
• Average home value (single family): $284,297
• Household median income: $58,869
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,665
• Total annual cost of living: $42,076

• Population: 15,819
• Average home value (single family): $269,121
• Household median income: $53,304
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,576
• Total annual cost of living: $43,212

• Population: 79,166
• Average home value (single family): $256,520
• Household median income: $56,243
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,502
• Total annual cost of living: $40,293

• Population: 16,969
• Average home value (single family): $277,310
• Household median income: $50,008
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,624
• Total annual cost of living: $40,945

• Population: 1,700
• Average home value (single family): $125,558
• Household median income: $56,125
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $735
• Total annual cost of living: $31,968

• Population: 39,906
• Average home value (single family): $221,950
• Household median income: $59,259
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,300
• Total annual cost of living: $37,304

• Population: 58,631
• Average home value (single family): $291,922
• Household median income: $67,011
• Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,709
• Total annual cost of living: $45,746

Caitlyn Moorhead and Jami Farkas contributed to the reporting of this article.

Photo disclaimer: Photos are for representational purposes only. Some photos are of the closest major city outside of the city mentioned it the article.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities in each state to find the best place to buy a vacation home for under $300,000. First, GOBankingRates analyzed single-family home average values from June 2024 as sourced from the Zillow Home Value Index. All the locations under $300,000 were kept for this study. Using AreaVibes.com, the livability index for each city was found and the city with the highest livability in each state, with an average home value under $300,000 was kept for this study. For each city, several factors were found including; total population, total households and household median income, all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces and using the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each city was calculated. Using the average mortgage cost and the average expenditure cost, the total cost of living can be calculated. District of Columbia and Rhode Island did not have cities with an average home value under $300,000 and therefore were not considered for this study. All data was collected on and is up to date as of July 30, 2024.