Massachusetts Town Named One of the Cheapest Beach Towns in the US

It’s that time of year again. School’s out for the summer, and families across the country are packing up to hit the beaches. If you’re like me, you may have that lifelong goal of turning your favorite summer vacation spot into a regular weekend getaway or even a full-time home. The major obstacle for many of us, though, is the high price of real estate...especially in beach towns.

Well, here's some good news: Realtor.com has crunched the numbers to find the most affordable beach towns for homebuyers in 2024. I have to say, I was pretty surprised to see that a seaside village in Cape Cod, of all places, landed in the top five.

Dennis Port, with a population of just over 3,000, has relatively low list prices. How is it possible that part of Cape Cod is boasting cheap real estate? I was thinking the same thing. Well, according to realtor.com, you can thank the abundance of small, World War II–era beach cottages. On a per-square-foot basis, these homes might seem pricey. But if you’re comfortable with cozy quarters, they offer a rare opportunity of owning a home with ocean views and direct beach access at a price that won’t drain the wallet (compared to other ocean front properties, of course.)

Take 217 Old Wharf Road, for example. This 500 square-foot one-bedroom cottage was just listed at just $198,000. Yes, it’s smaller than some backyard sheds, but it comes with ocean views from a spacious outdoor patio. Imagine starting your day with a cup of coffee on your patio, soaking in the ocean breeze.

If you’re looking to make beachside dreams a reality without spending a fortune, Dennis Port could be your perfect match. The homes may be small on space, but they're big on charm. That, along with ocean views and beach access, makes it a pretty sweet deal.