Want to retire near the water, but without paying premium prices for a home? Residents who buy real estate in these towns see their incomes go the furthest.
20 of 2520. Back Mountain, PA
Harvey's LakeMedian home price (2007): $170,000
Median family income: $72,814
Formerly a bucolic resort, the shores of Harveys Lake were once lined with dance halls, public beaches, and amusement parks. Today, although the lake itself is still used for recreation, it is surrounded by million-dollar mansions instead of hotels.
Not a town per se, Back Mountain is rather a collection of independent townships near Wilkes-Barre, abutting Pennsylvania`s Endless Mountains. In addition to waterfront housing at Harveys Lake, other developments offer proximity to country clubs and golf courses: A newly-constructed four-bedroom home with a golf course view at the private Newberry Estates costs about $400,000. The region boasts three hospitals within 10 miles.
