Minnesota alone is home to more than 10,000 lakes, but each corner of the United States has nationally—and sometimes internationally—renowned lake towns.
A city's reputation as a "lake town" can be more critical than proximity to landlocked bodies of recreation-friendly water. Lakes were often the historical breeding grounds of the nation's first industries and early transportation and shipping hubs. As lakeside communities grew into the 20th century, they industrialized and modernized, sprouting lively downtowns, diverse shopping districts, big businesses, new digs for artists and architects, strong primary schools, and top-notch higher education and research facilities.
It's not difficult to understand the appeal of lake towns. As noted in a July 2025 report from Vogue, spending time near large bodies of water, or "blue space," has significantly improved mental health. Plus, lakeside locations like South Lake Tahoe, California, and Greensboro, Georgia—both of which appear on Travel + Leisure's list of the best lake towns in the U.S. for 2025—provide tantalizing opportunities for outdoor recreation, from fishing to golfing to boating.
However, lakeside communities can vary widely in terms of cost and climate. Stacker examined 2021 data from the personal finance website WalletHub to determine the best United States lake towns to live in. WalletHub's data included 46 cities with beaches listed on TripAdvisor and populations of 10,000 to 150,000 people—this story focuses on the top 25. The towns were evaluated across six areas: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life.
Whether your goal is to start a family, escape the hustle and bustle of cities, or settle down at the start of a young professional life—or even in retirement—this list has something for everyone. Many included towns jump out at the casual observer as popular summer-rental spots, like the Ozarks' Branson, Missouri, or Arizona's Lake Havasu City. But diving deeper into their quality of life beyond the beach and vacation homes might surprise you.
You'll likely pick up some knowledge about a wide range of Americana: a Florida town that started as a Civil War veteran retirement area; an island boasting some of the country's top public schools and wealth-earners right in the middle of a lake between Seattle and Bellevue; and even a California town containing much more than Johnny Cash's prison blues.
