Clearwater Beach, Florida

It suits buyers who want the Gulf and boatable water as part of everyday life, with 206 of 271 active listings offering waterfront access. Tampa International Airport is about 40 minutes away and downtown Tampa roughly 50, so you're removed from the city bustle without being cut off. It leans toward a low-maintenance, condo-forward lifestyle rather than sprawling single-family neighborhoods.

It's a premium island market: the median list price is $799,000 and the average price is $673 per square foot, well above most of the mainland. That said, the range runs from about $199,000 to $16.75 million, so you can browse by price and find entry points as well as luxury. Over the last year, 339 homes sold at a median of $690,000.

Active listings have a median list price of $799,000, while homes that actually closed over the past 12 months came in at a median of $690,000. The typical home is around 1,394 square feet at roughly $673 per square foot, and 93 of the current listings are priced above $1 million. The townhomes & condos make up the bulk of the more attainable options.

There are 271 active listings with a median 64 days on market, so inventory isn't flying off the shelf and buyers have time to be selective. Sellers are averaging about 94% of asking price, which means reasonable offers are landing. Watching the open houses this week is a smart way to gauge which properties are moving.

Because this is a condo-heavy island, HOA fees are significant — the median runs about $1,163 per month, which typically reflects building amenities, insurance, and maintenance. Median property tax is around $9,968 per year. Factor both into your monthly numbers, especially in the high-rise gated communities where dues tend to be higher.