The 10 Most Expensive Small Towns in America

If you’re looking for a cheap vacation, you might want to give these towns a miss. Despite their smaller size, they can be as expensive as major cities and will quickly put a dent in your travel budget. 

LendingTree analyzed U.S. Census Bureau data to determine the top 50 U.S. towns that had the most expensive median home values. The study looked at small towns with populations between 10,000 and 50,000. 

The most expensive small town in the U.S. is Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. Located on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, this hugely popular (and notoriously pricey) summer vacation destination has a median home price of $699,500—which is higher than the median home price in Los Angeles ($613,400) or Washington, D.C. ($424,000). 

In addition to beach towns, a lot of mountain towns made it on the most expensive list. The 10 priciest towns in America are:

1. Vineyard Haven, MA
2. Breckenridge, CO
3. Jackson, WY
4. Steamboat Springs, CO
5. Hailey, ID
6. Gardnerville Ranchos, NV
7. Hood River, OR
8. Juneau, AK
9. Easton, MD
10. Los Alamos, NM

According to LendingTree, “The nation’s most expensive towns tend to be popular vacation spots for affluent individuals who often don’t make their money locally and who can afford to spend significant sums of money on homes.”

In turn, this often drives up prices for vacation rentals and makes a destination an expensive place to visit, so keep this list in mind next time you’re looking for a budget trip.