This Is the Best Place in America to Own a Beach House

By Douglas A. McIntyre Published Jan 1, 4:00PM EST

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This Is the Best Place in America to Own a Beach House — © BobPalosaari / iStock via Getty Images

Many people dream of living on the water. It often doesn’t even matter where, as long as the views are spectacular and the water clean. Many people like beach homes in warm climates, which is a major reason Americans move to states like Florida. Others like winter sports and have beach homes in places like northern Michigan. Some people have beach homes on lakes. Others prefer homes on the ocean.

Air filter company Filter King set out to find the best cities to own a beach home. In its Beach House Hotspots, the company considered several factors. Among them were home prices, one-year home price increases, average maximum temperature, air quality, and rainfall. Airbnb rental data was also considered. Based on these factors, the best place in America to own a beach house is Galveston, Texas.

As Filter King’s puts it: “Beaches remain one of the most popular vacation destinations, and whether you go for the sun, sand, sea, or simply the fresh air, everyone loves a trip to the seaside.” If you want a good return on your investment, this is the best place to buy a vacation home.

Locations were rated on a scale from 1 to 10. Not surprisingly, most of the best locations were along the Atlantic, in Florida and the Gulf states, including Alabama and Texas.

The best location for beach houses, Galveston, Texas, scored a rating of 7.64. Ironically, Galveston is the location of the most devastating hurricane in U.S. history. The Great Galveston Hurricane killed as many as 8,000 people in August 1900. Fortunately, early warning systems make sudden hurricane fatalities much less likely. However, Galveston remains in a section of the Gulf endangered every year by huge storms. These are the most powerful hurricanes of all time.

Click here to see the best place to own a beach house

50. Ocean Shores, Washington
> Beach hot spot score: 5.7
> Average home price: $275,503
> Average 1-year home price increase: 19.2%
> Average annual low temperature: 44˚F

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49. Eureka, California
> Beach hot spot score: 5.8
> Average home price: $343,929
> Average 1-year home price increase: 14.5%
> Average annual low temperature: 46.1˚F

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48. Eastham, Massachusetts
> Beach hot spot score: 5.8
> Average home price: $585,692
> Average 1-year home price increase: 20.3%
> Average annual low temperature: 44.1˚F

47. Port Angeles, Washington
> Beach hot spot score: 5.9
> Average home price: $331,294
> Average 1-year home price increase: 15.3%
> Average annual low temperature: 40.7˚F

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46. Mystic, Connecticut
> Beach hot spot score: 5.9
> Average home price: $420,550
> Average 1-year home price increase: 20.6%
> Average annual low temperature: 42˚F

45. Virginia Beach, Virginia
> Beach hot spot score: 5.9
> Average home price: $326,160
> Average 1-year home price increase: 10.8%
> Average annual low temperature: 50.7˚F

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44. Isle of Palms, South Carolina
> Beach hot spot score: 5.9
> Average home price: $965,995
> Average 1-year home price increase: 11.3%
> Average annual low temperature: 57˚F

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43. Captiva Island, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 6.0
> Average home price: $1,309,301
> Average 1-year home price increase: 8.2%
> Average annual low temperature: 65.5˚F

42. Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
> Beach hot spot score: 6.0
> Average home price: $1,053,949
> Average 1-year home price increase: 11.3%
> Average annual low temperature: 53.8˚F

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41. Ocean City, Maryland
> Beach hot spot score: 6.2
> Average home price: $322,507
> Average 1-year home price increase: 14.6%
> Average annual low temperature: 45.9˚F

40. Wilmington, North Carolina
> Beach hot spot score: 6.3
> Average home price: $280,177
> Average 1-year home price increase: 9.8%
> Average annual low temperature: 53.8˚F

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39. Palm Coast, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 6.3
> Average home price: $262,508
> Average 1-year home price increase: 11.0%
> Average annual low temperature: 60.5˚F

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38. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
> Beach hot spot score: 6.3
> Average home price: $151,326
> Average 1-year home price increase: 6.5%
> Average annual low temperature: 59˚F

37. Biloxi, Mississippi
> Beach hot spot score: 6.3
> Average home price: $168,003
> Average 1-year home price increase: 8.4%
> Average annual low temperature: 59.9˚F

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36. Gulfport, Mississippi
> Beach hot spot score: 6.3
> Average home price: $144,323
> Average 1-year home price increase: 8.8%
> Average annual low temperature: 58.4˚F

35. Kailua Kona, Hawaii
> Beach hot spot score: 6.4
> Average home price: $618,335
> Average 1-year home price increase: 10.1%
> Average annual low temperature: 63.3˚F

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34. Long Beach, California
> Beach hot spot score: 6.4
> Average home price: $706,199
> Average 1-year home price increase: 11.1%
> Average annual low temperature: 55.4˚F

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33. Ocean Springs, Mississippi
> Beach hot spot score: 6.4
> Average home price: $191,739
> Average 1-year home price increase: 11.4%
> Average annual low temperature: 61˚F

32. Freeport, Texas
> Beach hot spot score: 6.5
> Average home price: $117,891
> Average 1-year home price increase: 8.2%
> Average annual low temperature: 61.9˚F

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31. Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
> Beach hot spot score: 6.5
> Average home price: $312,397
> Average 1-year home price increase: 14.8%
> Average annual low temperature: 56.3˚F

30. Carolina Beach, North Carolina
> Beach hot spot score: 6.5
> Average home price: $393,594
> Average 1-year home price increase: 14.5%
> Average annual low temperature: 53.8˚F

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29. Clearwater Beach, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 6.6
> Average home price: $607,837
> Average 1-year home price increase: 11.2%
> Average annual low temperature: 63.9˚F

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28. Sanibel, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 6.6
> Average home price: $847,656
> Average 1-year home price increase: 8.7%
> Average annual low temperature: 65.5˚F

27. Dauphin Island, Alabama
> Beach hot spot score: 6.7
> Average home price: $361,057
> Average 1-year home price increase: 16.2%
> Average annual low temperature: 63.4˚F

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26. Port Aransas, Texas
> Beach hot spot score: 6.7
> Average home price: $448,523
> Average 1-year home price increase: 7.1%
> Average annual low temperature: 67˚F

25. Navarre, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 6.8
> Average home price: $320,333
> Average 1-year home price increase: 14.7%
> Average annual low temperature: 59.2˚F

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24. Pensacola Beach, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 6.8
> Average home price: $387,124
> Average 1-year home price increase: 14.6%
> Average annual low temperature: 60.3˚F

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23. Vero Beach, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 6.8
> Average home price: $255,064
> Average 1-year home price increase: 8.5%
> Average annual low temperature: 64.6˚F

22. Fort Walton Beach, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 6.8
> Average home price: $266,863
> Average 1-year home price increase: 13.2%
> Average annual low temperature: 59˚F

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21. Destin, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 6.8
> Average home price: $475,606
> Average 1-year home price increase: 10.1%
> Average annual low temperature: 61.4˚F

20. Daytona Beach, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 6.8
> Average home price: $188,224
> Average 1-year home price increase: 11.0%
> Average annual low temperature: 61.7˚F

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19. Hilton Head, South Carolina
> Beach hot spot score: 6.9
> Average home price: $491,346
> Average 1-year home price increase: 12.1%
> Average annual low temperature: 55.9˚F

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18. Cocoa Beach, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 6.9
> Average home price: $377,095
> Average 1-year home price increase: 10.8%
> Average annual low temperature: 63˚F

17. Paia, Hawaii
> Beach hot spot score: 6.9
> Average home price: $875,884
> Average 1-year home price increase: 6.5%
> Average annual low temperature: 67.4˚F

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16. Fort Myers Beach, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 6.9
> Average home price: $497,546
> Average 1-year home price increase: 9.4%
> Average annual low temperature: 65.5˚F

15. Key West, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 7.0
> Average home price: $736,275
> Average 1-year home price increase: 5.8%
> Average annual low temperature: 73.1˚F

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14. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
> Beach hot spot score: 7.0
> Average home price: $211,524
> Average 1-year home price increase: 9.6%
> Average annual low temperature: 52.2˚F

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13. Melbourne, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 7.0
> Average home price: $268,159
> Average 1-year home price increase: 11.6%
> Average annual low temperature: 63.7˚F

12. Port Arthur, Texas
> Beach hot spot score: 7.0
> Average home price: $71,428
> Average 1-year home price increase: 13.8%
> Average annual low temperature: 59.7˚F

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11. Deerfield Beach, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 7.2
> Average home price: $211,774
> Average 1-year home price increase: 9.0%
> Average annual low temperature: 68˚F

10. Miami Beach, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 7.2
> Average home price: $391,555
> Average 1-year home price increase: 3.9%
> Average annual low temperature: 68.1˚F

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9. Corpus Christi, Texas
> Beach hot spot score: 7.3
> Average home price: $183,073
> Average 1-year home price increase: 9.1%
> Average annual low temperature: 63.2˚F

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8. Fort Pierce, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 7.3
> Average home price: $193,493
> Average 1-year home price increase: 14.3%
> Average annual low temperature: 67˚F

7. Lahaina, Hawaii
> Beach hot spot score: 7.3
> Average home price: $801,009
> Average 1-year home price increase: 4.9%
> Average annual low temperature: 66.4˚F

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6. Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 7.4
> Average home price: $669,577
> Average 1-year home price increase: 15.1%
> Average annual low temperature: 68.5˚F

5. Gulf Shores, Alabama
> Beach hot spot score: 7.4
> Average home price: $323,708
> Average 1-year home price increase: 17.4%
> Average annual low temperature: 63˚F

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4. Miramar Beach, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 7.4
> Average home price: $497,865
> Average 1-year home price increase: 12.0%
> Average annual low temperature: 68.5˚F

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3. Panama City Beach, Florida
> Beach hot spot score: 7.5
> Average home price: $347,974
> Average 1-year home price increase: 7.3%
> Average annual low temperature: 61˚F

2. Orange Beach, Alabama
> Beach hot spot score: 7.5
> Average home price: $381,555
> Average 1-year home price increase: 21.9%
> Average annual low temperature: 59˚F

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1. Galveston, Texas
> Beach hot spot score: 7.6
> Average home price: $263,954
> Average 1-year home price increase: 14.7%
> Average annual low temperature: 65.3˚F

About the Author Douglas A. McIntyre →

Douglas A. McIntyre is the co-founder, chief executive officer and editor in chief of 24/7 Wall St. and 24/7 Tempo. He has held these jobs since 2006.

McIntyre has written thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St. He is an expert on corporate finance, the automotive industry, media companies and international finance. He has edited articles on national demographics, sports, personal income and travel.

His work has been quoted or mentioned in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, Time, The New Yorker, HuffPost USA Today, Business Insider, Yahoo, AOL, MarketWatch, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian and many other major publications. McIntyre has been a guest on CNBC, the BBC and television and radio stations across the country.

A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, McIntyre also was president of The Harvard Advocate. Founded in 1866, the Advocate is the oldest college publication in the United States.

TheStreet.com, Comps.com and Edgar Online are some of the public companies for which McIntyre served on the board of directors. He was a Vicinity Corporation board member when the company was sold to Microsoft in 2002. He served on the audit committees of some of these companies.

McIntyre has been the CEO of FutureSource, a provider of trading terminals and news to commodities and futures traders. He was president of Switchboard, the online phone directory company. He served as chairman and CEO of On2 Technologies, the video compression company that provided video compression software for Adobe’s Flash. Google bought On2 in 2009.