25 stunning Florida beach towns you can actually afford to live in

Deerfield Beach

Median price of listed homes: $174,900
North of Fort Lauderdale sits this boater's paradise. In addition to the stellar beaches, plenty of solid golf courses freckle the landscape, so hone your stroke before selecting this city for your next home. Fun fact: this town was named in 1925 for the large amounts of deer that would roam along the Hillsboro River.
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Cape Coral

Median price of listed homes: $259,950
Cape Coral has several spots worth checking out, including the Sun Splash Family Waterpark. There are also several kayak and fishing charters that can take the intrigued Coralian out onto the high seas. Plenty of seafood goldmines line the streets here, like the Dek Bar and Lobster Lady Seafood, which offer the locals some freshly caught dinner. There is also a weekly farmers market in the town square. The Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery is here as well, and it’s definitely worth your attention.
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Daytona Beach

Median price of listed homes: $152,000
The Daytona 500 rolls through this beachside beauty of a town yearly and is worth witnessing at least once. March and April are a bit daunting, since Daytona is the unofficial spring break capital of the world, but if these two events tug at your heartstrings, then maybe this party hub is your next home-in-waiting. Be sure to act fast, though, because the market is hot.
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Fort Pierce

Median price of listed homes: $199,900
The city houses the National Navy Seal Museum as well as the Sunrise Theatre in the middle of old downtown, which brings concerts and other live events to the less heavily trafficked performance hub. That, coupled with decadent features like the Heathcote Botanical Garden, the Manatee Observation Center, and Al’s Family Farms makes Fort Pierce yet another homely town worth a beach-aimed relocation.
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Fort Walton Beach

Median home value: $182,000
The Emerald Coast Science Center with its wind tunnel experiments and interactive exhibits is just one of the several magnetic aspects of this beachside gem. This subtle beach haven is home to the Air Force Armament Museum and favored local restaurant the Original Waterfront Crab Shack is capable of sliding into your favorite eatery slot.
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Pensacola

Median price of listed homes: $219,900
This historic settlement turned revered vacation destination could be your next home. While here, grab a seafood masterpiece at Skopelos at New World, or perhaps visit one of the many historical spots, like the National Aviation Museum. Perdido Key State Park offers great swimming and surfing if that is more your caveat, but know that sharks are common. So tread lightly.
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Delray Beach

Median price of listed homes: $260,000
Home of one of the most beautiful beaches on the east coast, Delray Beach offers a lot for locals. It’s considered part of the metropolitan area of Miami, but you don’t have to pay the steep prices that go hand in hand with living in the heart of Miami. Here, locals can enjoy some good American eats at Park Tavern or enjoy a drink by the water at Boston’s on the Beach. The market has cooled down here, so it may be time to swipe a good price on a home.
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Fort Myers

Median price of listed homes: $245,000
Fort Myers was given its name as an engagement present, so of course it’s the perfect place to move to if you’re newly married. It also gets the highest total numbers of days with sunshine out of any city in Florida, so you won’t have to deal with those melancholy, rainy days, which means more beach time.
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New Smyrna Beach

Median price of listed homes: $319,000
With a Marine Discovery Center and the historic Turtle Mound National Historic Site, this Atlantic-adjacent habitat is delightfully decorated with nature and breathtaking views. The historic downtown offers up quite a few cool restaurants and art galleries. When you've exhausted yourself at fine restaurants like Third Wave, The Garlic and Norwood's, stop by Frozen Gold for a soft-serve cone for dessert.
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Dunedin

Median price of listed homes: $275,000
This charming city offers an assortment of entertaining spots like the ferry-accessible Caladesi Island Park and the Pinellas Trail. Their other natural gem, Honeymoon Island, offers secluded hike-able trails in a historic setting that lacks any sign of modern touristic development. Baseball enthusiasts will be interested to know that the Toronto Blue Jays host their spring training in Dunedin.
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Edgewater

Median price of listed homes: $188,650
If you’re a fan of quiet beaches and NASCAR, moving to Edgewater may be the way to go. This city on the East Coast offers beautiful views of the Atlantic as well as a park area that spans 146 acres. Edgewater is loved by bicyclists, hikers, swimmers, and fisherman, so if that’s speak your language, it may be time to relocate.
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Ormond Beach

Median price of listed homes: $275,250
All you’ll likely need is one drive around Ormond Beach’s 30-mile “loop,” with its overhanging foliage and its genuine Florida feel, to decide to settle down in Daytona’s neighbor to the north. Check out Andy Romano Beachfront Park where you can picnic with friends and family or simply lounge on a solo mission for inner peace. Also, the oceanic view providing Crabby Chris Beachside BBQ and Sweets is a local dining right of passage that deserves your patronage at least once.
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Sarasota

Median price of listed homes: $340,000
This winterless wonderland offers the Central Floridian plenty of cultural cookies in the form of art galas, access to the award-winning Siesta Key beach, opera performances, the 10-day Sarasota Film Festival and many more enthralling events. With four hospitals, a great education system and 120 parks covering 3,000 acres of nature (not counting the 60 square miles that the Myakka State Park), Sarasota truly is a paradise worth considering.
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Tarpon Springs

Median price of listed homes: $307,777
Lovers of loofahs and other spongy products will love the long-standing Tarpon Springs Sponge Dock. Near the squishy docks sits a Greek food temple, Hellas Restaurant, and it seems to be the hot spot to stop at when you're in town. Fred Howard Park is also a nice seaside ornament for the town. The market has cooled down here, so try and score a deal while you can.
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Estero Beach

Median price of listed homes: $329,000
Estero Beach on the Gulf Coast is close to the luxurious amenities in the city of Naples but dodges the pricey home values. With a median age of 62, Estero is a great little town to move to if you are thinking about or already have retired. Make sure to check out some local hot spots like the South Fork Grille and Ted’s Montana Grill. The market here is currently very cold, so get a move on for the best deal on your next home.
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Gulfport

Median price of listed homes: $183,100
The Art Village Courtyard has storefronts like T and Me Tea Company as well as the Philanthropy store, which serves the public through various social projects. If you’re still hesitant to take the bait, then drive down and mull it over with a fishing day out on the Walter and Bert Williams Fishing Pier. However, home values have gone up 18.7 percent in the past year and continue to rise, so buy low while you still can.
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Hobe Sound

Median price of listed homes: $330,450
This gem sits north of West Palm Beach and provides locals with the visually pleasing Blowing Rock Preserve. Plus, Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge is nearby and can offer up glimpses of sea turtles, bald eagles or the elusive Floridian skunk. If you favor a home surrounded by nature than Hobe can easily be your next home. And if you like to drink on the beach, start packing.
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Indian Harbour Beach

Median price of listed homes: $363,750
Do you have a dog? The bring your pooch to Indian Harbour Beach’s Canova Beach Dog Park. You should also consider sampling the works of the pristine breakfast makers at the on-the-coast Sun on the Beach, with its well-known Southern-style breakfast items. The distance between Melbourne and this beachside town is so minuscule that you can easily take advantage of anything the larger town to the northeast has. The market is cold right now, so you can probably get a great deal.
Photo via City of Indian Harbour Beach/Facebook

Lynn Haven

Median price of listed homes: $246,900
Sitting not too far north of Panama City is Lynn Haven, this town is beckoning you to join its retiree paradise. It is a quaint community so close to the tourist hub to the south that entertainment, like Flippers Dolphin Tours and other Panama City-based adventures, is easily accessible while maintaining a much more affordable housing market. A performing arts center, the Kaleidoscope Theatre, brings plays and other events to the heart of the town, and the locally renowned Victoria’s Last Bite is an ominously titled restaurant that further drives home the retired feel that this town puts off.
Photo via City of Lynn Haven/Facebook

Melbourne

Median price of listed homes: $249,995
This surfer’s paradise is pretty cheap. However, beachside property is much pricier. If you don't need to be right on the water, it holds plenty of outdoorsy options to gravitate toward. Check out Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands, where you can drive through gator-filled swamps. The market is hot, so start home shopping now!
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