The 50 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in America
Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 7,696 towns of 2,500–10,000 people in the U.S.. #1 is Pelican Bay, FL.
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50Siesta Key, Florida
Better for a vacation home than 99% of U.S. towns
5,454 people · Sarasota County · median home $985,800 · income $115,854 · Jan low 52°F · 0 in snow
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49East Quogue, New York
Better for a vacation home than 99% of U.S. towns
5,557 people · Suffolk County · median home $844,100 · income $93,710 · Jan low 20°F · 27 in snow
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48Village of Oak Creek (Big Park), Arizona
Better for a vacation home than 99% of U.S. towns
6,128 people · Yavapai County · median home $741,100 · income $80,878 · Jan low 34°F · 26 in snow
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47Orleans, Massachusetts
Better for a vacation home than 99% of U.S. towns
6,307 people · Barnstable County · median home $957,000 · income $102,335 · Jan low 26°F · 25 in snow
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46Mattapoisett, Massachusetts
Better for a vacation home than 99% of U.S. towns
6,508 people · Plymouth County · median home $681,600 · income $130,241 · Jan low 22°F · 33 in snow
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45Snyderville, Utah
Better for a vacation home than 99% of U.S. towns
6,744 people · Summit County · median home $1,104,200 · income $143,517 · Jan low 16°F · 153 in snow
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44St. Augustine Beach, Florida
Better for a vacation home than 99% of U.S. towns
6,803 people · St. Johns County · median home $634,400 · income $100,802 · Jan low 48°F · 0 in snow
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43Longboat Key, Florida
Better for a vacation home than 99% of U.S. towns
7,505 people · Sarasota County · median home $1,022,100 · income $158,030 · Jan low 52°F · 0 in snow
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42Brigantine, New Jersey
Better for a vacation home than 99% of U.S. towns
7,716 people · Atlantic County · median home $524,800 · income $97,250 · Jan low 30°F · 15 in snow
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41Charlestown, Rhode Island
Better for a vacation home than 99% of U.S. towns
7,997 people · Washington County · median home $525,500 · income $109,404 · Jan low 25°F · 32 in snow
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40Springs, New York
Better for a vacation home than 99% of U.S. towns
8,086 people · Suffolk County · median home $948,500 · income $144,836 · Jan low 23°F · 27 in snow
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39Vilano Beach, Florida
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
2,514 people · St. Johns County · median home $648,900 · income $120,750 · Jan low 48°F · 0 in snow
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38Ferrisburgh, Vermont
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
2,646 people · Addison County · median home $422,700 · income $106,989 · Jan low 9°F · 79 in snow
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37Thornton, New Hampshire
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
2,708 people · Grafton County · median home $351,900 · income $90,022 · Jan low 6°F · 70 in snow
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36Pepperdine University, California
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
2,747 people · Los Angeles County · median home $979,700 · income $199,432 · Jan low 50°F · 0 in snow
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35Sag Harbor, New York
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
2,772 people · Suffolk County · median home $1,615,900 · income $129,821 · Jan low 23°F · 27 in snow
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34Spring Lake, New Jersey
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
2,789 people · Monmouth County · median home $2,000,001 · income $215,625 · Jan low 25°F
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33Island Walk, Florida
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
2,812 people · Collier County · median home $667,900 · income $81,103 · Jan low 52°F · 0 in snow
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32Bristol, Maine
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
2,834 people · Lincoln County · median home $406,400 · income $100,750 · Jan low 15°F · 70 in snow
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31Southern Shores, North Carolina
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,090 people · Dare County · median home $712,300 · income $131,429 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow
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30Monmouth Beach, New Jersey
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,174 people · Monmouth County · median home $995,000 · income $150,188 · Jan low 25°F · 25 in snow
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29Belgrade, Maine
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,250 people · Kennebec County · median home $312,200 · income $88,338 · Jan low 9°F · 87 in snow
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28Shelter Island, New York
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,253 people · Suffolk County · median home $1,104,300 · income $133,967 · Jan low 23°F · 27 in snow
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27North Falmouth, Massachusetts
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,293 people · Barnstable County · median home $715,300 · income $121,509 · Jan low 22°F · 37 in snow
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26Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,308 people · Washington County · median home $851,300 · income $82,192 · Jan low 19°F · 35 in snow
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25Ponce Inlet, Florida
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,364 people · Volusia County · median home $544,300 · income $102,200 · Jan low 52°F · 0 in snow
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24Grantham, New Hampshire
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,404 people · Sullivan County · median home $343,100 · income $106,403 · Jan low 9°F · 70 in snow
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23West Tisbury, Massachusetts
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,555 people · Dukes County · median home $1,302,100 · income $182,750 · Jan low 23°F · 25 in snow
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22Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,566 people · Barnstable County · median home $855,300 · income $117,938 · Jan low 26°F · 23 in snow
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21Big Sky, Montana
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,591 people · Gallatin County · median home $1,137,900 · income $138,805 · Jan low 9°F · 48 in snow
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20Little Compton, Rhode Island
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,616 people · Newport County · median home $783,400 · income $134,750 · Jan low 24°F · 38 in snow
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19Westhampton, New York
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,621 people · Suffolk County · median home $1,018,200 · income $119,886 · Jan low 20°F · 29 in snow
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18Essex, Massachusetts
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,675 people · Essex County · median home $897,400 · income $157,147 · Jan low 18°F · 51 in snow
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17South Beach, Florida
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,703 people · Indian River County · median home $900,700 · income $193,594 · Jan low 51°F · 0 in snow
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16Camden, Maine
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,850 people · Knox County · median home $498,800 · income $78,788 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow
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15Vineyards, Florida
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
3,883 people · Collier County · median home $651,800 · income $131,118 · Jan low 52°F · 0 in snow
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14Beach Haven West, New Jersey
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
4,143 people · Ocean County · median home $641,700 · income $119,394 · Jan low 27°F · 10 in snow
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13Indian River Shores, Florida
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
4,241 people · Indian River County · median home $1,132,000 · income $156,037 · Jan low 54°F · 0 in snow
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12Highland Beach, Florida
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
4,295 people · Palm Beach County · median home $909,200 · income $145,485 · Jan low 56°F · 0 in snow
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11Montauk, New York
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
4,318 people · Suffolk County · median home $1,356,600 · income $142,961 · Jan low 28°F · 26 in snow
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10Northwest Harbor, New York
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
4,637 people · Suffolk County · median home $1,573,300 · income $160,375 · Jan low 23°F · 27 in snow
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9Butler Beach, Florida
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
4,978 people · St. Johns County · median home $493,100 · income $76,689 · Jan low 48°F · 0 in snow
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8Bar Harbor, Maine
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
5,089 people · Hancock County · median home $538,400 · income $77,180 · Jan low 15°F
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7Camden, Maine
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
5,232 people · Knox County · median home $520,600 · income $82,344 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow
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6Rye, New Hampshire
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
5,543 people · Rockingham County · median home $1,028,100 · income $140,655 · Jan low 16°F · 65 in snow
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5Jamestown, Rhode Island
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
5,559 people · Newport County · median home $842,400 · income $140,625 · Jan low 24°F · 26 in snow
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4Eastham, Massachusetts
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
5,752 people · Barnstable County · median home $732,200 · income $72,992 · Jan low 26°F · 24 in snow
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3Woodstock, New York
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
6,287 people · Ulster County · median home $604,700 · income $92,118 · Jan low 12°F · 86 in snow
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2Chatham, Massachusetts
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
6,594 people · Barnstable County · median home $942,800 · income $85,167 · Jan low 25°F · 25 in snow
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1Pelican Bay, Florida
Better for a vacation home than 100% of U.S. towns
6,660 people · Collier County · median home $1,287,900 · income $163,520 · Jan low 56°F · 0 in snow
Price vs ranking
More U.S. rankings
- The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
- The 50 Quietest Small Towns in America
- The 50 Most Affordable Small Towns in America
- The 50 Best Small Towns for Families in America
- The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- The 50 Best Places to Retire in America
- The 50 Quietest Places in America
- The 50 Most Affordable Places in America
- The 50 Best Places for Families in America
- The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
Same ranking, other places
- The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in Pennsylvania
- The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in New York
- The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in Michigan
- The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in Texas
- The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in California
- The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in New Jersey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)