5 Affordable Small Cities To Live In on the East Coast
East Coast cities offer the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean, but cities on the coast are often expensive due to their proximity to water.
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These four East Coast cities defy expectations and are surprisingly affordable.
Port Orange, Florida
Port Orange is located just south of Daytona Beach and offers an average home price of $355,435, just below the national average.
Its position in the Fun Coast region means that its nearly 66,000 residents get to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities throughout the entire year, including water sports, parks, and festivals.
Monthly rent also falls below the national average at $1,470, and the cost of living in Port Orange is 1% below the national average.
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Georgetown, South Carolina
Nestled on the banks of Winyah Bay, Georgetown boasts a historic downtown, views of the bay, a variety of museums, and plenty of boating and fishing activities.
The Historic Georgetown website also notes that the city is very pet friendly with businesses ready to pass out treats and offer water for your four-legged friends. A population of just over 8,000 people means you’ll likely get to know your neighbors and see a friendly face on a walk.
Average home prices fall at $261,976, and monthly rent averages $1,365 per month. The cost of living in Georgetown is 10% below the national average.
New Bern, North Carolina
This small town of around 30,000 people is flanked by the Neuse River and Trent River, offering water access and a vibrant downtown scene. Home values fall at $272,374 and rent averages $1,259 per month.
Cost of living is 14% below the national average. A look at their community calendar reveals a number of activities hosted by the North Carolina Symphony, New Bern Tours and many other local establishments.
Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce is right on the Atlantic Ocean and is even nicknamed the “Sunrise City,” according to Visit Florida, for its stunning sunrises over the waves. Year-round warmth, sunny skies, and plenty of activities on water and land make this town of just under 50,000 people a small town that offers a lot.
Jeff Lichtenstein, owner and broker at Echo Fine Properties noted that while prices have risen in much of South Florida, “the one area that is still small, super hot and very affordable is Fort Pierce.”
The cost of living in Fort Pierce is 1% above the national average, but the average home price is $272,746 and average rent is $1,337 per month — both of which fall below the national average.
New Haven, Connecticut
Typically, home values in New England fall above the national average, but New Haven is one exception.
Located on Long Island Sound and home to Yale University, it’s a town town full of history that has brought itself comfortably into the modern era. With a population of 135,319, it’s a little bigger than other cities on the list, but the home values fall around $300,023 and are below the national average.
The juxtaposition the city offers between preserving history and innovating for the future creates a unique and exciting environment. But, while housing costs fall below the national average, rental costs do not.
Average rent in New Haven is $2,081 per month, quite a bit higher than the national average and cost of living is 25% above the national average, so while it’s affordable as far as housing goes, other costs should be factored in.
Methodology: To determine these five affordable small East Coast cities, GOBankingRates narrowed the search to cities that were around 100,000 people, according to U.S. Census Bureau population counts as of Jul. 1, 2023. GOBankingRates also checked recent home values to make sure that the home values in these cities were below the national average of $359,099 as reported by Zillow Zestimates and the national median sale price of $434,720 as reported by Redfin. Rental costs as per Apartments.com were compared to the national average of $1,559 per month. GOBankingRates also accounted for livability scores according to AreaVibes and Niche, as well as cost of living data sourced from the Economic Research Institute.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Affordable Small Cities To Live In on the East Coast
