1. Gulfport, MS

Median price within 1 mile of the beach: $224,900

Median price per square foot within 1 mile of the beach: $144

The white sand beaches of Gulfport, located between the Mississippi-Louisiana border and the Alabama state line, are once again at the top of our list.

The city boasts 26 miles of Gulf of Mexico beaches.

"But there's also a lot of back bays and rivers," says Angelia Clark, a real estate agent with Re/Max Results in Real Estate. The area also offers plenty of shopping, casinos, sailing and water skiing.

A medium-sized city of about 72,000 residents, Gulfport offers a blend of small-town feel and city life. It is known for its southern cuisine. However, the town has also been hit by hurricanes, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which destroyed local property.

"Over the years we've had a huge number of snowbirds come here from the north for the winter," Clark said." You can go deep-sea fishing, be on a barrier island and then have a nice dinner at one of our casinos."

For $225,000, buyers can find a completely renovated condo within a five-minute walk to the beach. Biloxi, Mississippi, directly adjacent to the east side of Gulfport, is also quite affordable for buyers.

2. Newport News, Virginia

Median price within 1 mile of the beach: $200,000

Median price per square foot within 1 mile of the beach: $150

Newport News is the oldest of all the places on our list.

The city sits at the southern end of the Virginia Peninsula, where the James River meets the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the river leading to the Atlantic Ocean. Newport News is about 25 miles from Jamestown, Virginia, one of the earliest British settlements in North America.

It is now home to the largest shipyard in the country and some very beautiful beaches on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and the James River. Huntington Beach is located north of downtown Newport News, while Kings-Lincoln Park Beach and the larger Anderson Beach are located east of the city centre.

If you're willing to drive, the seaside options multiply, including nearby Buckroe Beach. 40 miles away, you can visit spectacular Virginia Beach, which is the best place in the state.

The town offers plenty of options for fishing and boating, as well as fine dining. There are even Civil War re-enactments. (This is Virginia, after all).

Buyers looking for a deal should check out this three-bedroom, two-bathroom condo marketed with a private beach for $150,000.

3. New London, Connecticut

Median price within 1 mile of the beach: $257,000

Median price per square foot within 1 mile of the beach: $175

For non-New Englanders, Connecticut may not be the first place envisioned as an affordable beach town. After all, the Constitution State's housing market is about 20% more expensive than the U.S. median, and the average Connecticut beachfront property is priced at $1 million or more.

"New London is like a little gem of affordability," says Keith Turner, a mortgage lender with Homestead Funding in New London." Just look at the prices in some of the cities around here."

He's right: in Mystic, Connecticut, just a few miles east, homes near the beach cost more than three times as much per square foot.

New London has one of the best public beaches in the state: Ocean Beach Park, located at the foot of the Atlantic Ocean on Long Island Sound. It has miles of sand, a long boardwalk and many beach recreational facilities, including a mini-golf course, amusement rides and a water spray park. On summer evenings there are concerts, free movies and fireworks.

Overwater condominiums on the south side of Greenhaven Beach are priced at around US$170,000. For another $100,000, beach lovers can get a four-bedroom home practically right around the corner from Ocean Beach.

"People tend to overlook this area," says Turner." It's a real harbour town. It has community. You know your neighbours here. It's not like those other touristy New England towns. ...... New London still has the same feel it's had for so long."

4. Grand Island, Los Angeles

Median price within 1 mile of the beach: $309,500

Median price per square foot within 1 mile of the beach: $190

A barrier island connected to mainland Louisiana by a short bridge, Grand Isle is by far the smallest town on our list, with only about 1,000 official residents.

This quiet town offers quick access not only to the beach but also to Grand Isle State Park with its hiking trails, campgrounds and fishing pier. People can go deep-sea saltwater fishing in the park. (There are plenty of speckled trout to be caught).

Those who want to live the remote life on this island can buy a small classic beach house perched on stilts for less than $250,000.

5. Corpus Christi, Texas

Median price within 1 mile of the beach: $289,948

Median price per square foot within 1 mile of the beach: $206

Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Corpus Christi is the largest city on our list with approximately 320,000 residents. It has 192 square miles of coastline.

Beach lovers have many options in this area. Residents and visitors can enjoy the sand and sun of Corpus Christi Bay at places like North Beach or Mackay Beach. They can also take a short trip to Padre Island, a long barrier island that runs along much of the Texas Gulf of Mexico coastline.

Those who come to North Beach can browse the souvenir shops, ride bikes or skate on the concrete beach, or go fishing on the pier. There is also a pet-friendly restaurant called Pier 99, which has a special menu for dogs. Sunbathers at Magee Beach can rent cabanas, as well as personal watercraft and pedal boats. As we said, choice.

The city suffered severe damage from Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which helps explain why prices here remain lower than in other parts of the country. But when it's not wreaking havoc, the steady winds are actually a source of entertainment here: Corpus Christi is considered one of the best places in the East for windsurfing, kitesurfing and kite flying.

Beach lovers can get a decent-sized three-bedroom home in the bay less than a mile from the water for around $270,000.