Towns

America's Most Affordable Small Towns

Explore tight-knit communities with populations under 10,000

0.9

Best Ratio

Freer, TX

Under 10K

Population Threshold

Small towns

30.5

Highest Ratio

Wilson, WY

Small-Town Living, Big-Time Value

Towns with populations under 10,000 represent America's smallest incorporated communities. These close-knit places often feature historic Main Streets, strong community bonds, slower-paced lifestyles, and—in many cases—exceptional housing affordability. Whether you're seeking a peaceful retirement destination, a family-friendly environment, or remote work flexibility, small towns offer unique advantages.

While towns may lack the amenities of larger cities, they often compensate with lower costs of living, shorter commutes, access to natural beauty, and genuine community connection. For those willing to trade urban conveniences for tranquility and value, small towns can be an ideal fit.

Our rankings highlight the top 100 most and least affordable towns nationwide. The affordability ratio (median home value ÷ median household income) reveals where housing remains most accessible. Many towns feature ratios well below 4.0, indicating homes that cost less than four times the annual household income—a benchmark increasingly rare in larger metros.

Want more urban options? Browse our large cities, mid-size cities, or small cities rankings for larger communities.

Top 100 Most & Least Affordable Towns

✓ Most Affordable

Towns with the best value ratios

Rank	Town	State	Population	Ratio	Home Value
#1	Freer	TX	2,524	0.9	$67,351
#2	Morton	TX	1,510	1.1	$42,731
#3	Electra	TX	2,259	1.1	$73,373
#4	Rotan	TX	1,232	1.2	$63,398
#5	Sterling City	TX	1,173	1.3	$160,280
#6	Ralls	TX	1,524	1.4	$79,017
#7	Kermit	TX	5,681	1.3	$121,705
#8	Coahoma	TX	1,519	1.5	$183,805
#9	Wellington	TX	2,008	1.6	$77,040
#10	Benavides	TX	1,399	1.6	$70,133
#11	Trezevant	TN	1,018	1.9	$126,444
#12	Ozona	TX	2,485	1.2	$97,044
#13	Floydada	TX	2,618	1.5	$70,824
#14	Haskell	TX	3,038	1.6	$96,141
#15	San Diego	TX	3,795	1.6	$75,599
#16	Memphis	TX	2,231	1.5	$72,032
#17	White Deer	TX	1,179	1.7	$143,898
#18	Munday	TX	1,478	1.6	$93,149
#19	Santa Clara	NM	1,751	1.8	$81,841
#20	Sudan	TX	1,132	1.7	$116,918
#21	Crosbyton	TX	1,718	1.7	$66,150
#22	Falfurrias	TX	4,443	1.7	$67,012
#23	Fritch	TX	2,544	1.7	$137,138
#24	Drexel	OH	1,659	1.2	$53,491
#25	Celoron	NY	1,412	1.8	$99,843
#26	Westernport	MD	1,864	1.7	$86,333
#27	West Orange	TX	3,442	1.8	$107,983
#28	Brilliant	OH	1,065	1.6	$78,513
#29	Shamrock	TX	1,966	1.2	$71,970
#30	Hamlin	TX	2,178	1.6	$98,761
#31	Hawthorne	NV	2,876	2.2	$121,234
#32	Chattahoochee	FL	2,965	2.0	$109,244
#33	Tucumcari	NM	5,197	2.1	$82,872
#34	Littlefield	TX	5,886	1.9	$105,013
#35	Ogdensburg	NY	9,600	1.9	$110,016
#36	Lockney	TX	1,602	1.7	$98,578
#37	Mingo Junction	OH	3,382	1.4	$84,768
#38	Perryton	TX	8,625	1.8	$114,920
#39	Flushing	OH	1,004	1.4	$90,969
#40	Fort McKinley	OH	3,832	1.8	$85,052
#41	Muleshoe	TX	5,328	1.9	$135,430
#42	Leavittsburg	OH	1,219	1.5	$90,190
#43	Coal Grove	OH	2,144	1.5	$80,464
#44	Middletown	CA	1,659	1.7	$282,038
#45	Mobridge	SD	2,928	2.1	$127,219
#46	Vernon	TX	9,947	1.9	$92,074
#47	Tribes Hill	NY	1,004	1.9	$181,797
#48	Spearman	TX	2,809	1.8	$121,580
#49	Childress	TX	5,964	1.8	$108,637
#50	Bridgeport	OH	1,457	1.7	$90,148
#51	Dimmitt	TX	4,143	1.9	$128,281
#52	Hebbronville	TX	4,324	2.0	$84,517
#53	Northridge	OH	7,546	1.2	$96,136
#54	Bolivar	NY	1,108	1.9	$103,432
#55	Clarksburg	TN	1,011	2.2	$162,892
#56	Crystal City	TX	6,241	2.0	$78,422
#57	Cotulla	TX	3,690	2.0	$118,942
#58	Henning	TN	1,259	2.3	$99,193
#59	Colorado City	TX	3,973	2.0	$95,932
#60	Elmira Heights	NY	4,254	2.1	$113,258
#61	Coleman	TX	3,942	2.0	$101,708
#62	Stamford	TX	2,902	2.1	$86,613
#63	Glouster	OH	1,556	2.0	$74,880
#64	Keokuk	IA	9,748	1.6	$79,172
#65	Mohawk	NY	2,522	2.0	$163,142
#66	Taft	TX	2,847	2.1	$140,964
#67	Dannemora	NY	2,831	2.0	$143,735
#68	Appleton	MN	1,360	2.1	$82,783
#69	Park River	ND	1,483	2.2	$164,902
#70	Tiltonsville	OH	1,240	1.9	$111,179
#71	Bridge City	TX	9,549	2.0	$201,434
#72	Gotha	FL	1,179	2.7	$497,306
#73	Stanley	ND	2,089	2.2	$237,000
#74	Booker	TX	1,283	2.1	$140,996
#75	Gettysburg	SD	1,344	2.3	$135,759
#76	Lone Star	TX	1,924	2.1	$99,971
#77	Middleport	OH	2,114	2.1	$74,988
#78	Wheeler	TX	1,401	2.1	$119,010
#79	Hoyt Lakes	MN	2,074	1.9	$120,449
#80	Sundown	TX	1,477	2.1	$133,428
#81	Shoreacres	TX	1,327	1.9	$284,679
#82	Bishop	TX	3,133	2.1	$125,369
#83	Rainelle	WV	1,334	1.9	$68,436
#84	Ballinger	TX	3,599	2.2	$131,706
#85	Adams Center	NY	1,002	2.2	$219,061
#86	Ely	NV	3,941	2.3	$199,735
#87	Bunkerville	NV	1,119	2.5	$369,519
#88	Oceana	WV	1,421	1.5	$69,766
#89	Cando	ND	1,199	2.4	$118,990
#90	North Hornell	NY	1,055	2.2	$173,748
#91	Houghton	NY	1,685	2.2	$192,553
#92	Marmet	WV	1,520	2.0	$95,590
#93	Welch	WV	3,492	1.2	$44,111
#94	Oakes	ND	2,046	2.4	$157,392
#95	Abernathy	TX	3,108	2.2	$168,215
#96	Hamshire	TX	1,460	2.2	$252,081
#97	Bruceton	TN	1,363	2.6	$143,779
#98	Nashwauk	MN	1,035	2.0	$118,940
#99	South Point	OH	3,228	1.9	$155,934
#100	Newell	WV	1,252	2.1	$81,374

! Least Affordable

Towns with the highest cost burden

Rank	Town	State	Population	Ratio	Home Value
#1	Wilson	WY	1,255	30.5	$3,116,934
#2	Oak Bluffs	MA	1,357	20.4	$1,205,010
#3	Medina	TX	4,073	16.8	$368,802
#4	Aspen	CO	6,862	41.6	$3,272,877
#5	Harwich Port	MA	2,011	16.0	$1,036,489
#6	Mountain Village	CO	1,713	34.5	$2,063,473
#7	Atherton	CA	7,021	30.0	$7,503,557
#8	Meredith	NH	2,887	12.6	$656,728
#9	Big Sky	MT	2,388	17.6	$1,824,270
#10	Sea Isle City	NJ	2,079	14.2	$1,407,491
#11	Summerland	CA	1,248	21.6	$2,875,679
#12	Avalon	NJ	1,478	18.1	$2,596,161
#13	Montecito	CA	8,823	23.2	$5,183,676
#14	Johnson City	TX	1,952	13.8	$652,119
#15	Bay Head	NJ	1,201	15.9	$2,305,967
#16	Inverness	CA	1,396	18.0	$1,407,148
#17	Telluride	CO	2,595	21.1	$2,049,537
#18	Wolfeboro	NH	2,420	11.8	$599,046
#19	Chatham	MA	1,614	15.1	$1,240,793
#20	Bolinas	CA	1,176	18.4	$1,755,591
#21	Carmel-by-the-Sea	CA	3,186	19.8	$2,296,270
#22	Ship Bottom	NJ	1,009	12.6	$1,402,568
#23	Orleans	MA	1,618	13.5	$1,034,588
#24	Falmouth	MA	3,996	12.0	$817,626
#25	Seaside Heights	NJ	1,992	11.6	$682,984
#26	Beach Haven	NJ	1,096	13.9	$1,598,190
#27	Tavernier	FL	2,179	14.4	$724,783
#28	Snowmass Village	CO	3,048	21.8	$2,342,712
#29	Yountville	CA	3,396	16.2	$1,293,734
#30	Ketchum	ID	3,551	17.4	$1,522,486
#31	Eastpoint	FL	2,602	12.3	$756,376
#32	Plains	MT	1,077	16.2	$398,428
#33	Princeville	HI	1,794	13.2	$1,408,992
#34	Crested Butte	CO	1,436	19.7	$1,419,383
#35	Friday Harbor	WA	2,685	12.2	$852,383
#36	Del Monte Forest	CA	3,576	17.9	$2,771,071
#37	Wildwood	NJ	5,140	11.7	$607,992
#38	Kings Beach	CA	2,493	14.9	$803,358
#39	Greensboro	GA	3,603	16.8	$712,743
#40	Sun Valley	ID	1,383	13.7	$1,123,665
#41	Cape May	NJ	2,789	12.0	$688,604
#42	Cayucos	CA	2,517	15.9	$1,318,536
#43	Highlands	NC	1,276	15.9	$1,013,598
#44	Stevensville	MT	2,172	11.4	$599,788
#45	Great Barrington	MA	1,953	10.1	$578,879
#46	Belvedere	CA	2,415	18.1	$4,517,617
#47	Surf City	NJ	1,225	12.9	$1,526,779
#48	Manson	WA	1,595	9.7	$728,062
#49	Terra Bella	CA	1,658	6.1	$379,524
#50	Bradley Beach	NJ	4,264	11.2	$1,059,032
#51	Lac du Flambeau	WI	1,619	12.8	$445,715
#52	Canaan	CT	1,297	11.6	$370,028
#53	Palmer	TX	1,606	11.4	$312,916
#54	Kilauea	HI	3,104	20.4	$1,763,919
#55	Islamorada	FL	7,042	12.6	$1,197,665
#56	Vail	CO	4,729	16.6	$1,722,941
#57	Brewster	MA	1,711	10.1	$759,092
#58	Santa Ynez	CA	4,725	15.4	$1,808,890
#59	Prospect Park	NJ	6,286	10.6	$517,118
#60	Dover	FL	3,157	10.0	$423,229
#61	Belmar	NJ	5,861	10.6	$984,595
#62	Pagosa Springs	CO	1,718	15.1	$555,989
#63	Prairie View	TX	8,220	10.8	$206,877
#64	Ojai	CA	7,576	14.1	$1,116,004
#65	Portola Valley	CA	4,329	15.8	$3,939,644
#66	Alpine	NJ	1,503	11.8	$2,953,357
#67	Young Harris	GA	1,087	14.1	$390,541
#68	Freeport	ME	1,544	13.6	$659,065
#69	Nokomis	FL	3,391	12.0	$494,272
#70	Marion	MT	1,149	13.2	$685,615
#71	Philipsburg	MT	1,012	10.6	$425,074
#72	Ross	CA	2,626	15.0	$3,749,027
#73	Charlevoix	MI	2,420	8.1	$425,116
#74	Red Lodge	MT	2,399	11.4	$501,778
#75	Woodside	CA	5,181	14.7	$3,678,105
#76	Balcones Heights	TX	2,724	7.3	$205,408
#77	Carbondale	CO	6,553	14.9	$1,406,821
#78	Haleiwa	HI	4,671	17.5	$1,643,490
#79	New Canaan	CT	7,032	12.1	$1,980,311
#80	Seeley Lake	MT	1,335	11.5	$530,251
#81	New Preston	CT	1,121	11.1	$670,574
#82	Awendaw	SC	1,574	11.0	$778,192
#83	Gallatin Gateway	MT	1,092	12.6	$1,023,839
#84	Sequim	WA	8,130	10.5	$558,812
#85	Provincetown	MA	3,466	8.3	$1,029,909
#86	Florence	TX	1,215	7.3	$533,501
#87	Sea Girt	NJ	1,978	10.9	$2,242,862
#88	McCall	ID	3,847	12.7	$762,280
#89	Seaside Park	NJ	1,804	9.9	$821,217
#90	Kamas	UT	2,229	13.5	$1,176,336
#91	Grand Ronde	OR	1,443	11.3	$456,506
#92	West Yellowstone	MT	1,457	10.6	$604,308
#93	Koloa	HI	2,327	16.1	$1,232,473
#94	Mechanicville	NY	5,143	10.0	$473,674
#95	Tiburon	CA	9,035	13.3	$2,828,966
#96	Avon	CO	6,057	14.9	$1,270,200
#97	Somers	MT	1,181	11.9	$669,965
#98	Lavallette	NJ	1,836	9.3	$1,129,394
#99	Capitola	CA	9,813	12.2	$1,178,402
#100	Marathon	FL	9,831	10.0	$806,991

How Rankings Are Calculated

Rankings are based on the affordability ratio (median home value ÷ median household income). Lower ratios indicate more affordable towns where homes cost less relative to what residents earn.

Towns: Population under 10,000
Very Affordable: Ratio below 4.0 (homes cost less than 4× annual income)
Moderate: Ratio between 4.0-6.0
Expensive: Ratio above 6.0 (homes cost more than 6× annual income)

See our methodology page for complete details on data sources and calculations.

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