The white-sand beaches of Gulfport, situated about halfway between Mississippi s border with Louisiana and the Alabama border, tops our list once again. The city boasts 26 miles of beach on the Gulf of Mexico.
Newport News has one of the most interesting past of all the places we looked at. The city is at the very southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula. It is right where the James River meets the Chesapeake Bay, not far from where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Connecticut may not be the first spot non-New Englanders think of for inexpensive beach towns. The typical Connecticut oceanfront home costs over $1 million, and the housing market is 20% more costly than the U.S. norm.
Grand Isle, a barrier island linked to Louisiana by a short bridge, is our smallest municipality, with 1,000 people. The peaceful community is near Grand Isle State Park, which contains hiking trails, campgrounds, and a fishing pier.
The biggest city on our list is Gulf of Mexico-based Corpus Christi with 320,000 people. Its coastline is 192 square miles. Beachgoers have several alternatives here. Corpus Christi Bay's North Beach and McGee Beach.
Atlantic City, known for its casinos and boardwalk, is usually an inexpensive seaside town. It's renowned for its casinos, but it also offers one of the Northeast's greatest Atlantic Ocean beaches and inexpensive accommodation.
Florida has historically provided great value for oceanfront living. Especially in the panhandle, where beaches have beautiful white sand. Navarre, 20 miles east of Pensacola, has the greatest median house size and highest property costs.