USA — Finding an affordable place to live and ski is more challenging today compared to a few decades ago. Thanks a lot, boomers. However, there are still affordable places to live for ski bums.
Yesterday, Realtor.com released its annual list of the most affordable ski towns to live in. The real estate website compiles this list by analyzing ski resort data from OnTheSnow.com and qualifying towns that only have at least fifty active listings.
Joel Berner, who’s the senior economist for Realtor.com, said the following about the ski towns that made their 2024 list:
Winter sports are truly a national pastime, and all across the country there are opportunities to live near the slopes. Skiing is a notoriously expensive hobby, and homes near ski resorts often tend toward the luxury segment of the market. But there are pockets of affordable living with access to the mountain in all regions of the United States. All 12 of these markets had a median listing price under $500,000, and half of them were even below $250,000. These towns offer children, beginners, and those hoping to shred on a budget the opportunity to live in a home within minutes of the lifts.Â
Here is Realtor.com’s top twelve picks for the most affordable ski towns in the United States.
- 12. Maggie Valley, North Carolina
- 11. Albuquerque, New Mexico
- 10. Brian Head, Utah
- 9. Anaconda, Montana
- 8. Harrisonburg, Virginia
- 7. Vernon, New Jersey
- 6. Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
- 5. Scranton, Pennsylvania
- 4. Snowshoe, West Virginia
- 3. Mansfield, Ohio
- 2. Harrison, Michigan
- 1. Malone, New York
Malone, which is home to Titus Mountain, gets the top spot. In addition, Malone is also a relatively short drive away from other skiing destinations in Vermont and Canada.
What stands out is a good chunk of these destinations is that they’re in the Rust Belt states. Wisconsin Dells is perhaps the most interesting one of these. It’s regarded as the water park capital of the world, but it’s also home to Christmas Mountain (located in town) and Cascade Mountain (located less than 30 minutes away).
Out of all these picks, the best option for those who want the greatest skiing experience is probably Brian Head. The varied slopes and future expansion plans make it an enticing option for avid skiers. Some other great skiing western locations that appear on this list include Anaconda, near Discovery Ski Area, and Albuquerque, which is near the recently reopened Sandia Peak.
Ultimately, this list shows if you’re looking for a mix of affordable living and great skiing, you’ll need to be creative. However, if you buy a home in one of these towns, you can use that saved money from not buying a mega million mansion and take some trips to the top skiing destinations instead.
Image Credits: Titus Mountain Family Ski Center, Realtor.com
