The 15 Best Beach Towns To Live In This Year

The 15 Best Beach Towns to Live in This Year

With summer being peak moving season, the personal-finance website WalletHub took a close look at this year's best beach towns to live in. To determine the most livable beachside communities, WalletHub compared 227 cities across 49 key metrics. The data set ranges from housing costs to share of for-sale waterfront homes to quality of beach water.

15. Stillwater, Minnesota

Stillwater ranked very high in the separate category of "Education and Health." The city is known as the "birthplace of Minnesota." You will have lots of fun in the town, which is easy to get to anyway. It's not far from the Twin Cities Minneapolis and St. Paul and just over the Lift Bridge from Wisconsin. Warm summer air welcomes outdoor art fairs, festival events, restaurant patios, boating, and historic sightseeing, according to Discover Stillwater.

14. Jupiter, Florida

Jupiter makes the Top 15 largely because of its affordability. It is the northernmost town in Palm Beach County and it offer gorgeous beaches, luxury amenities and an easygoing lifestyle. You will love hiking and biking the many park and beach trails, paddling a kayak along the Loxahatchee River and climbing the Jupiter Lighthouse for the view. Bonus:  Jupiter's Roger Dean Stadium is Spring Training home to both the Florida Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals, according to Visit Florida.

13. Kihei, Hawaii

Kihei is among the towns with the lowest median annual property taxes. This is another reason why it ranked high in the "Affordability" category. The town is beach-combing territory on Maui's southwest shore, the sunniest, driest end of the island, according to Go Hawaii. Enjoy the six miles of beaches, clear views of Kahoolawe, Molokini, Lanai and West Maui. Swimming, surfing, snorkeling and kayaking are everyday activities.

12. Sarasota, Florida

What brings Sarasota so high on the list is its "quality of life" rank – 3 overall. This is no surprise when you soak up the sun along white-sand beaches every day and treat yourself to diverse dining, inspiring arts and culture. Sarasota is also among the beach towns with the most nightlife establishments, restaurants and coffee shops per capita.

11. Lahaina, Hawaii

Lahaina has the second lowest median annual property taxes, putting it in the Top 10 in terms of affordability and quality of life. The city used to be known as Lele, which means "relentless sun" in Hawaiian. The historic town has been transformed into a modern hot spot. The sunny climate and oceanfront location provide the ideal setting for fun activities and entertainment.

10. Duluth, Minnesota

What makes Duluth attractive to live in is affordability and the high quality of education and healthcare, according to the data. It also offers a lot of adventure opportunities with its rocky cliffs and forests with miles and miles of trails to explore. Get on a fishing charter or sailboat and see Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world in area, from up close.

9. Boca Raton, Florida

Who wouldn't want to live in a city that has it all – beaches, sun, nice weather year-round, world-class art scene, festivals and venues, and, of course, lots of golf courses? Located in the Palm Beach Country, you can't expect anything less from Boca Raton. No wonder the city is ranked high in the overall "Quality of Life" category.

8. Key Biscayne, Florida

Key Biscayne has the fifth lowest violent crime rate among the 227 cities analyzed. This south of Miami Beach island town is popular with people who like all kinds of water sports but it also attracts golf and tennis fans. The Tennis Center at Crandon Park is a major attraction. With its 13,800-seat stadium, the park has been hosting the Miami Open since 1987. For those of you who want to keep their fitness level high, Key Biscayne is very bike-friendly.

7. Marco Island, Florida

At Marco Island, which ranks among the places with the highest water temperature, you're on the edge of the Everglades. Also, it has the highest percentage of for-sale waterfront homes. The island, which actually is largest of Florida's Ten Thousand Islands, is ranked second in the "safety" category.

6. Charleston, South Carolina

People go to budget-friendly Charleston for the food, golf courses, and historic sites. The city where the Civil War began undoubtedly tops the list of must-see places for American history buffs. The cobblestone streets, lined with buildings that date back to the 1700s, add to the remarkable feeling of living there. You won't miss the beach because you are only a short drive away from five beach towns.

5. St. Augustine, Florida

The oldest city in the U.S. is tied with a few other cities for having the most nightlife establishments and restaurants per capita. Its overall "Quality of Life" rank is second. The city, which has a quaint feel but big appeal, offers historic sights, family fun adventures and venues, awesome "on the water" experiences, and unique scenery.

4. Traverse City, Michigan

Traverse City, as well as Alpena, in Michigan have the fewest disaster declarations (since 1953), three each, which is 19.7 times fewer than in seven California cities: Santa Monica, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Santa Fe Springs, Palos Verdes Estates and Malibu, which have the most at 59 each.

3. Eden Prairie, Minnesota

This is where the great outdoors meets a great job market. The city's high rank is due to Eden Prairie's economy and education and health quality. Eden Prairie has appeared on MONEY's Best Places list several times and finished No. 1 in 2010. One reason for its success is that economy is self-sustaining. Eden Prairie has invested in its outdoor splendors; there are 37 parks, 17 lakes, and 200 miles of sidewalks and trails.

2. Key West, Florida

One of the best places in the Sunshine State is the island city of Key West. The water temperature is high, there are many nightlife establishments, and the percentage of for-sale waterfront homes is high. Why not move right away? Have fun every day boating, paddling and kayaking. Other popular active adventures include snorkeling, jet skiing, parasailing, primitive camping, and flyboarding. The sunsets here are so stunning, that along will keep you there forever. Bonus: This is a pet-friendly city.

1. Naples, Florida

The city tops the separate ranking for overall quality of life. Naples also shares the first spot for the most restaurants and nightlife establishments per capita. This wonderful beach town is known for high-end shopping, but also for being an affordable family destination that draws nature lovers and beach admirers.