- Affordability rank: #3 Lake Havasu was formed when the Parker Dam was built in 1938 on the Colorado River. Not ready to spring for your own lake house just yet? - Weather rank: #6 - Total Score: 54.25 The sliver of northern Ohio just west of Cleveland starts off the top 10 countdown. Residents can enjoy biking, walking, or running the scenic boardwalk and, in addition to a low cost of living, can access all Detroit offers in an hour-long drive. - Total Score: 59.08 Lansing is the state capital, and East Lansing is home to Michigan State University. Just 20 miles from state capital Sacramento, Folsom's livability correlates with its top public schools, dining options, and weather. Lake Placid is perhaps best known for hosting the 1980 Winter Olympics. If Queen Dolly Partons Stampede and live country music shows arent your thing, check out the Titanic Museum, with 400 pre-Discovery artifacts spread across 20 gallerieswhich can be enjoyed in the blissful A/C. Known as Alabamas Lake City, its surrounded by older trees, rugged mountains, and has cultural amenities like a regional theater company. This gives you and your family many opportunities to engage in watersports, as well as hiking and other outdoor activities. - Quality of life rank: #26. Its possible to get a house in this area for just over $100,000, such as this cute three-bedroomasking $115,000. Besides the beautiful Great Lakes, Michigan has over 11,000 inland lakes with homes situated on most of them. House hunters who want easy access to entertainment after paddleboarding, kayaking, or boating across 43,000 acres of water will appreciate one of the many waterfront homes on Table Rock Lake. - Education & health rank: #32 The lake extends 20 miles in length. - Weather rank: #7 - Safety rank: #20 - Total Score: 47.07 Take a Day Trip to Charming Winona Lake, IndianaJust 2.5 Hours from Chicago and Indy. Millions of people across the Northeast, Midwest and mid-Atlantic in the US have been under air quality alerts in recent weeks as wildfire smoke originating . 3. Thinking of Buying a Lakeside Home? Mequon, on Lake Michigan, is about 20 miles north of Milwaukee and perennially grades as one of the best places to live in Wisconsin. - Safety rank: #42 - Economy rank: #26 - Weather rank: #35 Conveniently located near the capital in Austin, getaways are easy when you are ready for a change of pace. Youll be charmed by the ambiance and amazed by the food. - Education & health rank: #27 Everything We Know as Missing Woman Found, Steve Bannon Issues Ominous Warning to Kevin McCarthy Over Matt Gaetz, Michael Burham Arrest: How a Family Dog Led to Prison Escapee Being Caught, Fox News Host Confronts GOP Senator on Opposition to Military Abortions. This northern California town is a prime location for rafting, canoeing, and other water activities. - Education & health rank: #14 Even better, there is a 6-Person version of the same tent selling . To keep the list geographically diverse, we limited the list to one lake town per state. 2 last year. - Safety rank: #3 The "four-season playground" has a range of nightlife activities (casinos, performing arts, wineries, distilleries), as well renowned antique and farmers markets, shopping, and any outdoor recreation one could imagine. - Affordability rank: #10 In the downtown area, you are able to explore many art galleries, shops, and a variety of restaurants. The lake is the largest and deepest in Colorado and was formed during the Pinedale glaciation when a natural dam created the lake. ), A Designer Turned Her Childhood Friend's Home into a Masterful Mash-Up of '70s and '80s Decor Hits. - Economy rank: #35 - Economy rank: #25 - Education & health rank: #36 - Affordability rank: #12 The town of Greenville, Maine, is situated on Moosehead Lake the largest lake in the state. This gives this lake town, which sits on Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa, a strong European feel. For many, lakeside living is the answer. The informative museum on the Games and international ski jump, bobsled, and luge training facilities still gets tons of visitors who want to learn more or watch world-class athletes train. - Weather rank: #11 * Median home list prices as of June from Realtor.com. The town of 14,000 is a homeowners community, and families with children will find Pewaukee consistently ranks high for its public schools. Due to its location, farm-to-table restaurants are very popular here. - Affordability rank: #44 Winter Olympics. Thats a whole lot of space for you to lie out, water-ski, fish, kayak, or do whatever other water-based activity you care to dream up. Situated in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, South Lake Tahoe offers popular activities throughout the year. Dont expect modernism, though the town is populated with Victorian architecture and uses buggies rather than cars (which certainly makes the town charming). The Coeur dAlene Resort is well known as one of the best hotels the state has to offer, so youll have a great place to recommend to out-of-town relatives who want to come and visit and take advantage of the wonderful nature in this area. Experience Flights of Fancy for a selection of locally produced ciders and wines. The lake offers a 12.5-mile hike and bike path. Thanks to a project in the Black Hills, Jacobs got the heads-up that groundbreaking is set to start on a new community built around the old Deer Mountain ski area, just 20 miles from Sturgis. Bay Village's parks, Bay Boat Club, and top public schools are some ingredients for a favorable destination among families and seniors. Top 10 Western Lakes for Boaters - boats.com Another Milwaukee suburb, and neighbor to previously mentioned Pewaukee, Brookfield is a suburban and park-lovers paradise. The historic port now offers popular vacation destinations like the Lake Erie Shores & Islands, and residents enjoy a top-notch school system and festivals and events like the Woolybear Festival and Historic SummerFare. Read on to discover 30 of the best lakes in the US to live on. The area also has lots to do, from shopping and dining to mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and canoeing on its rivers and lakes. Grand Marais, Minnesota Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world, and visiting Grand Marais in Minnesota gives you the perfect opportunity to experience it. End your meal with brown butter cookies from Pennyroyal Caf and Provisions or a Michigan fruit pie from Cranes Pie Pantry Restaurant. Country Life Travel The 40 Best Small Lake Towns in America Get your waterside fix this summer at one of these charming destinations. - Affordability rank: #46 20 Best Lakes in the US | PlanetWare Downtown is known as a little mecca of cool for its shops like My Cottage Garden and Scout & Tag where you can shop like a local for the perfect items. The locals don't want word to spread, but this classic resort town and golf destination has sugar-sand beaches. - Safety rank: #12 6/21. Chicago is a mere 40 miles away, and Portage residents get the benefits of above-average public schools and more reasonable cost of living. Buyers who want to get in on the monthly drum circles in Basin Springs Park can find great deals on homes close to downtown, such as this renovated three-bedroom asking $279,000. Though known as a vacation getaway, above-average schools make it viable for settling down as well. - Economy rank: #6 Its most beloved centerpiece is "Big Red"the much-visited and -photographed lighthouse in Holland State Park. This all-star restaurant offers prime beef and fresh seafood, including an oyster bar, with stellar wines, bourbons, and whiskeys. Each place had to have at least 50 listings each month to make the cut. Top 10 Fishing Lakes in the US - Take Me Fishing - Weather rank: #40 - Safety rank: #11 - Education & health rank: #8 - Safety rank: #36 Best Places to Live in Lansing, Michigan - Sperling's BestPlaces - Affordability rank: #42 Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada Winter in Lake Tahoe | Photo Copyright: Carri Wilbanks Easily one of the prettiest lakes in the US, Lake Tahoe sits on the state line between California and Nevada and is surrounded by the snowcapped peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Looking for a lake house in Missouri is a great idea because the state is home to nearly 600 man-made lakes that provide a wide-range of recreational options. Bayfield Lake is the entryway to the Apostle Islands and kayaking here is incredibly popular. - Quality of life rank: #20, Mercer Island, a suburb of Seattle, lies on Lake Washington between Seattle to the west and Bellevue to the east. - Safety rank: #46 - Weather rank: #22 - Affordability rank: #21 Track the air quality across the US. - Quality of life rank: #27. Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe is known for its deep blue clear water, which boasts visibility of up to 75 feet. - Education & health rank: #45 - Education & health rank: #2 6 Under-the-Radar Locations to Build a Lake House in the Midwest 4 suburb in Wisconsin to live, buy a home, and raise a family) put Brookfield just outside WalletHub's top 10 lake towns. - Economy rank: #45 1. - Safety rank: #26 - Education & health rank: #7 Prior Lake has two public beaches available . Set in the Ozark Mountains of Northwestern Arkansas, Eureka Springs gets a ton of visitors who want to admire the beautifully preserved architecture of its Historic District. - Total Score: 50.75 The 10 Most Swimmable Lakes in America - SmarterTravel Top 10 Affordable Lake Towns in the US If you are seeking mountain vistas and a lush, peaceful lake, look into the town of Guntersville, AL. Oak Creek's public schools, parks, and a plethora of town events (farmers market, beer gardens, outdoor movie nights) boost its quality of life and make it a favorable place to settle down. - Weather rank: #18 With terrain covering not only the lake but also surrounding mountains, it's easy to see why the town is popular not only for short-term stays but also full-time life. One perennial rule of summer: Branson, MO, is always one of the highest-ranking lake towns in the nationeven if it did move down a couple of spots, from No. - Quality of life rank: #39. - Quality of life rank: #31. Flathead Lake. This man-made lake features stunning waterfalls and streams that add to the natural beauty of the area. - Affordability rank: #19 - Weather rank: #12 Also, you never know who youll run into here as this town is popular with celebrities. - Quality of life rank: #10. - Quality of life rank: #25. - Affordability rank: #18 Also, it is near Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the Pigeon Forge/ Gatlinburg communities. - Economy rank: #18 - Education & health rank: #34 "My wife and I decided to visit Lake Lansing lake to do some paddle boarding." more. Spring Hill Pond. - Affordability rank: #33 - Quality of life rank: #42. Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California. - Economy rank: #36 During colder months, residents can take advantage of the trails for hiking and cross-country skiing. Downtown also has several sporting goods stores, ski shops, and artisanal boutiques such as the Tahoe Mountain Soap Company and Bohemian Beads and Arts. Cloud, a Central Florida suburb of Orlando, lies at the southern shore of East Lake Tohopekaliga. Great golf scenes. Of the five Great Lakes, Lake Erie is the fourth largest and is also the shallowest among the Great Lakes. Or one of the mighty Great Lakes, with beaches as fine as any ocean's. When you are looking for something else to do, consider visiting the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort where you can play casino games and participate in American thoroughbred horseracing. - Quality of life rank: #44. - Economy rank: #46 - Weather rank: #27 Nestled among the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the border of California and Nevada, visitors generally. Sights include the Palace Hotel and Bath House, listed on the National Historic Register, as well as the Basin Park Hotel and the supposedly haunted Crescent Hotel. The town of Lake Placid, set on the banks of, you guessed it, Lake Placid, is probably best known as the home of the 1980 (and 1932!) Best Midwestern Lake Towns to Live in | Stacker But family members who arent into waiting hours (or what can feel like hours) for fish to bite have plenty of other entertainment options throughout the year as well, from wakeboarding and tubing on the water to minigolf and go-karts off it. - Safety rank: #41 The most populous city in southwest Iowa includes the large Lake Manawa State Park in its southern section. - Affordability rank: #43 Try Alyssas Restaurant and Bar, Azaleas Restaurant, Anna Rose Restaurant, or Legends of the Lake. This lake community, located in Mohave County, is a mid-size town with many entertainment opportunities.