2021’s Best Beach Towns to Live in – WalletHub Study

After the pandemic some Americans decided to move to metro areas on the coast such as Oregon, Florida and Louisiana. Coastal counties of the U.S. are home to over 128 million people, or almost 40 percent of the nation's total population. A study from the UK found that those who reside about half a mile from the beach have better mental health than those who live more than 30 miles away.

With coastal states like Florida, North Carolina and Maine among the most popular places people relocated to last year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021's Best Beach Towns to Live in.

To determine the most livable beachside communities, they compared 191 cities across 62 key metrics. The data set ranges from housing costs to share of for-sale waterfront homes to quality of beach water.

Their study divides beach towns into two categories, those by the ocean and those by lakes.

Best vs. Worst

Ocean Beach Cities

• Port Lavaca, Texas, has the lowest median home price as a share of income, 1.85, which is 8.1 times lower than in Newport Beach, California, the city with the highest at 14.93.
• Waianae, Hawaii, has the lowest median annual property taxes, 0.17 percent, which is 17.8 times lower than in Shirley, New York, the city with the highest at 3.02 percent.
• Miami Beach, Coral Gables and Key Biscayne, Florida, as well as Port Royal, South Carolina, all share the fewest disaster declarations (since 1953), 16, which is 4.8 times fewer than in Santa Monica, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes Estates and Malibu, California, the cities with the most at 76.
• Rye, New York, has the fewest property crimes per 1,000 residents, 0.95, which is 118 times lower than in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the city with the most at 112.34.

Lake Beach Cities

• Alpena, Michigan, has the lowest median home price as a share of income, 1.86, which is 4.4 times lower than in Mercer Island, Washington, the city with the highest at 8.26.
• Morgan City, Louisiana, has the lowest median annual property taxes, 0.28 percent, which is 13.4 times lower than in Zion, Illinois, the city with the highest at 3.76 percent.
• Traverse City and Alpena, Michigan, have the fewest disaster declarations (since 1953), five each, which is 12 times fewer than in Lake Elsinore, California, the city with the most at 60.
• Rocky River, Ohio, has the fewest property crimes per 1,000 residents, 3.21, which is 31.3 times lower than in Branson, Missouri, the city with the most at 100.36.

Expert Commentary

What should people look for in choosing a beach property?

“That depends on a lot of factors that would include the size of family, income levels, how far do you want to travel to your beach property. When you are at your beach property, do you want quiet, or do you want activities that are family or adult-oriented?

David Florenza, Assistant Professor, Villanova University

Is it better to live in a beach town with a large year-round population compared to those with a more seasonal population?

“Living in a beach town that has a large year-round population can oftentimes be a struggle with younger families as they tend to be a lot noisier at night, higher traffic volumes through the neighborhoods, longer lines at local eateries and stores, and trash constantly left behind by visitors from afar who do not have an affinity to the local community. However, for those seeking a more outgoing lifestyle, this may be a fitting community.”

“In a smaller beach town with a seasonal population, the scene will be significantly quieter for most of the year except during the hotter summer months when city-goers look towards beaches for an escape from the heat. These towns tend to provide a peaceful community with a warm neighborhood feeling throughout the year and a serene welcoming feeling without having to fight through traffic or a parking spot throughout the year like the larger beach cities.”

John Yeressian, Professor, El Camino College

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?

“A variety of factors including proximity to the beach, beach access, and other amenities such as pools, green space, and water access for boating just to name a few. A good proxy for value would be to look at the short-term rental market for the immediate area. Even if you do not plan to rent the property it will give you a good idea of how in-demand the particular area is. It also seems unlikely that beachfront property in or near a prime resort area will decline in value, especially over the long haul.”

Stuart Norton, Data Analytics Coordinator, University of Alabama

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?

“Hurricane-prone and low-lying areas are more vulnerable to increasingly severe weather patterns and rising sea levels. Another concern is erosion. These hazards contribute to an environment where it becomes more difficult and expensive to purchase property insurance. In turn, this makes beach properties less affordable and accessible. Building more structurally sound homes on the higher and more stable ground is one way to address these issues. Another approach is for communities to invest in erosion controls such as sea walls and other barriers. In addition, communities can change construction codes, update zoning, and implement more thoughtful architectural programming. For example, more durable materials can be used and living areas within buildings can be located above garages that are more likely to be flooded. Finally, beach properties near federal land and within wealthier communities may receive greater protection against flooding and erosion, which may be viewed as a form of climate gentrification.”

Jon A. Baumunk, Lecturer, San Diego State University

To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-beach-towns-to-live-in/36567