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America is filled with cities that offer outdoor lovers plenty of places to hike, bike, ski, and surf to their heart’s content. But let’s face it: Not everyone can afford a chalet in Aspen or a beachfront Malibu mansion.
Outdoor enthusiasts come in a wide range of income levels, and many of them might wonder: Where can they find a home that suits their lifestyle as well as their paycheck?
To find out, we at Realtor.com® dove into U.S. Census Bureau statistics along with our own real estate listings data to pinpoint the top cities for outdoor enthusiasts at a variety of homebuying price ranges. We uncovered some surprisingly bargain-friendly outdoor meccas for buyers willing to go off the beaten path, as well as luxe locations for house hunters who want nothing short of the best in al fresco fun.
Best outdoor meccas for bargain homes
For listings priced below $500,000, Ketchikan, AK, is the top city; it’s where homes sell for a median of $445,000. Situated near Misty Fjords National Monument, this is one of the most southerly metros in Alaska, surrounded by snowcapped mountains. It’s known for its annual salmon spawning and wildlife viewing—including bald eagles and bears—and it draws in visitors from around the world.
Other bargain-friendly outdoor cities include Spirit Lake, IA, at No. 2 and Brainerd, MN, at No. 3. Many of the most affordable cities with lots of outdoor enterprises are clustered in the northern part of the U.S., especially the Midwest, known for its longstanding affordability.
Best outdoor meccas for medium-priced homes
In the $500,000 to $1 million price range, we uncovered plenty of metros offering an upscale outdoor lifestyle. Kill Devil Hills, NC, comes in at No. 1, followed by Ocean City, NJ, and Walla Walla, WA.
Like the meccas for bargain homes, we see a trend here, too: Many of these places are neighboring, peripheral, or secondary markets to higher-priced areas that have many of the same attributes.
Take Walla Walla, nestled in the heart of wine country in Southeastern Washington. The area is famous for its vineyards and serves as a picturesque backdrop for residents. It’s also home to the Whitman Mission National Historic Site, yet it’s priced below the more expensive metros like Seattle and Bellingham along the Puget Sound.
No. 10 on the list, San Luis Obispo, is a California city whose outdoor lifestyle cred is known to locals, but without the name recognition of nearby places like Santa Barbara, where homes cost about twice as much.
No. 7 is Spearfish, SD, tucked in the Black Hills where adventure seekers can indulge in hiking and biking. There, the Spearfish Recreation & Aquatics Center offers year-round outdoor activities, with access to parks, a large biking trail system, and winter sports facilities.
No. 4 is Hood River, OR, a hot spot for windsurfers and a thriving microbrew scene. Check out the Hood River Hops Fest, a celebration of local brews set against river views.
Best outdoor meccas for luxury homes
For those with few budget constraints, the top city for outdoor enthusiasts with median home prices above $1 million is Napa, CA, followed by Key West, FL, and Breckenridge, CO.
Napa is globally recognized for its elite wineries and hosts the Napa Valley Marathon, an event that marries fitness with the beauty of wine country. The Oxbow Public Market, located in the heart of the valley, offers local, seasonal produce and artisanal foods in an open-air setting, reflecting the region’s culinary culture set against its natural beauty.
Far from California’s wine country, Key West comes with a vibrant maritime heritage. A glance at the Key West fishing tournament schedule shows it’s all about the kind of lifestyle offered there.
Breckenridge, famous for its world-class ski slopes, is a winter sports paradise. Beyond the area’s tourist-dense ski resorts, there’s the Breckenridge Nordic Center, which offers access to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, catering to outdoor enthusiasts who prefer a tranquil yet active engagement with nature.
These luxury locales provide exclusive outdoor activities that define their local culture, offering lavish amenities to those seeking a sophisticated, active lifestyle.
What makes a city great for outdoor lovers
The definition of an “outdoor” lifestyle is fairly subjective. One person’s al fresco adventure might be another’s mosquito-fueled nightmare. And how to go about measuring the outdoor qualities of any given place isn’t an obvious exercise.
This led us to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau about the number and types of businesses in any given area. By selecting the business types that support outdoor adventures, and calculating the number of those businesses per capita, we can learn where residents are supporting these businesses. This leads us, in a roundabout way, to communities that reflect the outdoor lifestyle by virtue of the free market’s support of those businesses.
Not surprisingly, many areas with the most outdoors-oriented businesses per capita include exclusive, high-priced locales like Jackson, WY, and Breckenridge, as well as historic vacation destinations like Martha’s Vineyard and Hawaii. But we also found more reasonably priced places where the local businesses focus on the great outdoors. This will come as good news to homebuyers: Because no matter what budget you have, you can find a place where the trails meet your doorstep, the rivers beckon you to visit, and the mountains call out for exploration.
Our analysis combined the March median list price for every U.S. metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area, with the Census Bureau’s most recent “county business pattern” data, aggregated by statistical area and calculated as a per capita rate, using the following business types (in descending order, based on the total U.S. count):
Fitness and recreational sports centers
Sporting goods stores
Golf courses and country clubs
Motorcycle, ATV, and all other motor vehicle dealers
RV (recreational vehicle) parks and recreational camps
Breweries
Wineries
Boat dealers
Marinas
Other spectator sports
Recreational vehicle dealers
Scenic and sightseeing water transportation
Sports teams and clubs
Historical sites
Scenic and sightseeing land transportation
Amusement and theme parks
Zoos and botanical gardens
Nature parks and other similar institutions
Inland water passenger transportation
Racetracks
Scenic and sightseeing transportation (other than land and water)
Skiing facilities
Our guide to where the great outdoors meets the real estate market spans the country, from the far tip of Florida to the Alaskan coastline, and from Hawaii to New York, spotlighting areas with a dense concentration of businesses geared to outdoor enthusiasts.
Whether the draw is mountain biking, sailing, or enjoying a quiet park, these places might be the perfect place to call home. Our lists are ordered by the per capita outdoor business ranking, for all business categories within each price range.
Top outdoor cities with median list prices below $500K
1. Ketchikan, AK
Median list price: $445,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: RV parks and recreational camps; scenic and sightseeing land transportation; scenic and sightseeing water transportation
Home for sale for $489,000 at Nhn No Street in Ketchikan, AK
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2. Spirit Lake, IA
Median list price: $380,270
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Fitness and recreational sports centers; golf courses and country clubs; boat dealers
3. Brainerd, MN
Median list price: $449,900
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Boat dealers; RV parks and recreational camps
4. Juneau, AK
Median list price: $496,750
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Scenic and sightseeing land transportation; scenic and sightseeing transportation (other than land or water); breweries
5. Alexandria, MN
Median list price: $435,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Boat dealers; golf courses and country clubs; recreational vehicle dealers
6. Seneca Falls, NY
Median list price: $279,400
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Marinas; wineries
7. Mitchell, SD
Median list price: $309,950
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Golf courses and country clubs; sporting goods stores; motorcycle, ATV, and all other motor vehicle dealers
8. Riverton, WY
Median list price: $357,500
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Motorcycle, ATV, and all other motor vehicle dealers; fitness and recreational sports centers
9. Glens Falls, NY
Median list price: $349,900
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Breweries; Marinas
10. Traverse City, MI
Median list price: $480,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Golf courses and country clubs; scenic and sightseeing land transportation; wineries
Top outdoor cities with median list prices between $500K and $1M
1. Kill Devil Hills, NC
Median list price: $699,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Sporting goods stores; scenic and sightseeing water transportation; marinas; boat dealers
2. Ocean City, NJ
Median list price: $919,450
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Amusement and theme parks; boat dealers; historical sites; marinas
3. Walla Walla, WA
Median list price: $510,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Wineries
Home for sale in Hood River, OR
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4. Hood River, OR
Median list price: $769,500
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Breweries; sporting goods stores; wineries
5. Morehead City, NC
Median list price: $599,900
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Marinas; other spectator sports; scenic and sightseeing water transportation
6. Fredericksburg, TX
Median list price: $825,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Wineries; scenic and sightseeing land transportation
7. Spearfish, SD
Median list price: $829,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: RV parks and recreational camps; motorcycle, ATV, and all other motor vehicle dealers; breweries
8. Brookings, OR
Median list price: $649,950
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: RV parks and recreational camps; breweries
9. Santa Rosa, CA
Median list price: $989,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Wineries; nature parks and other similar institutions
Home for sale in San Luis Obispo, CA
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10. San Luis Obispo, CA
Median list price: $999,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Wineries; nature parks and other similar institutions; historical sites
Top outdoor cities with median list prices above $1M
1. Napa, CA
Median list price: $1,562,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Wineries; scenic and sightseeing transportation (other than land or water)
Home for sale for $2.7 million at 1043 Rose Drive in Napa, CA
Realtor.com
2. Key West, FL
Median list price: $1,350,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Boat dealers; inland water passenger transportation; nature parks and other similar institutions; scenic and sightseeing water transportation; sports teams and clubs
Home for sale in Breckenridge, CO
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3. Breckenridge, CO
Median list price: $1,125,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Breweries; skiing facilities; sporting goods stores
4. Jackson, WY
Median list price: $1,862,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Other spectator sports; RV parks and recreational camps; skiing facilities
5. Steamboat Springs, CO
Median list price: $1,900,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Breweries; fitness and recreational sports centers; sporting goods stores; golf courses and country clubs
6. Edwards, CO
Median list price: $1,125,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Sporting goods stores; fitness and recreational sports centers
7. Vineyard Haven, MA
Median list price: $2,450,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Scenic and sightseeing water transportation; scenic and sightseeing land transportation; marinas; golf courses and country clubs
8. Glendwood Springs, CO
Median list price: $1,739,340
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Skiing facilities; sporting goods stores; fitness and recreational sports centers
9. Bozeman, MT
Median list price: $1,099,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Breweries; fitness and recreational sports centers; RV parks and recreational camps; wineries
Home for sale in Traverse City, MI
Realtor.com
10. Kapaa, HI
Median list price: $1,639,000
Notable outdoor-oriented businesses: Zoos and botanical gardens; scenic and sightseeing transportation (other than land or water); scenic and sightseeing land transportation
The post The Top Cities for Outdoor Enthusiasts—and a Mix of Homes for All Budgets appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.