Top 10 U.S. Towns Where Vacation Homes Dominate The Market

In some American towns, nearly every house sits empty for part of the year. Whether it’s a beachside bungalow, a mountainside chalet, or a lakeside estate, these seasonal homes are usually owned by part-time residents – and in the most extreme cases, they make up over 98% of all housing in town.

From coastal escapes in Delaware to ski havens in Colorado, here are the 10 U.S. towns with the highest share of seasonal homes.

10 Most Seasonal Towns in America

What is seasonal housing, and what’s happening in the market right now?

Seasonal homes are properties that are used only part of the year, often for vacations, recreation, or occasional stays. They’re typically located in popular getaway destinations, but demand tends to ebb and flow with affordability – and lately, high housing costs have made vacation homes harder to afford.

During the pandemic’s era of ultra-low mortgage rates, second-home purchases more than doubled, driven in part by investor activity. Since then, they’ve plunged to new lows in response to economic uncertainty and near-record housing costs. As a result, vacation markets are cooling slightly faster than other parts of the country.

A recent Redfin analysis found that home sales in seasonal towns fell 3% in July, compared to a 1% drop in non-seasonal towns. When costs are high, people are more likely to forgo or sell their ski chalet or beach house.

A closer look at America’s most seasonal towns

1. Dewey Beach, DE

• Seasonal housing share: 98.3%
• Total seasonal housing units: 1,376
• Permanent population: 328
• Dewey median sale price: $995,000

Along Delaware’s gorgeous Cape Region, Dewey Beach is the most seasonal town in the U.S., with more than 98% of its homes used only part-time. 

Dewey Beach is a coastal town full of colonial architecture, sandy shorelines, and family-owned shops. Sussex County, which includes Dewey Beach, has grown rapidly since the turn of the century. Vast housing tracts and retirement communities have popped up in place of farmland to take advantage of pleasant weather and pristine beachfront. 

Dewey Beach has a very small year-round population, but summers bring tens of thousands of visitors to a town that’s otherwise quiet.

Dewey Beach homes for sale | Dewey Beach houses for rent | Dewey Beach apartments for rent

2. Quogue, NY

• Seasonal housing share: 97.9%
• Total seasonal housing units: 1,376
• Permanent population: 602
• Quogue median sale price: $10,800,000

Pronounced “Kwog,” Quogue is a small Hamptons town on the southern coast of Long Island. It sets itself apart from the affluence of the rest of the Hamptons with its low-key, down-to-earth atmosphere – although that’s not to say it’s affordable. 

The Hamptons have long been a summer haven for the ultrawealthy, but exploded in popularity during the pandemic. The cost of living in the area has skyrocketed, and two of its ZIP codes are now among the most expensive in the nation. Seasonal homeowners are often wealthy and have no trouble affording $100-a-pound lobster salad or $400 melons, to the chagrin of some locals. With relatively few homes selling each year, the median sale price can swing dramatically – ranging from about $2 million to $12 million in recent years.

Quogue homes for sale | Quogue houses for rent | Quogue apartments for rent

3. Bald Head Island, NC

• • Seasonal housing share: 97.5%
  • Total seasonal housing units: 1,052
  • Permanent population: 149
  • Bald Head Island median sale price: $2,292,500

Previously Smith Island, Bald Head Island is a tiny resort community an hour south of Wilmington. It’s a relatively remote town only accessible by ferry – in fact, cars aren’t allowed on the island. Residents instead drive golf carts, bike, or walk, which creates a very peaceful atmosphere. 

Bald Head Island homes for sale | Bald Head Island houses for rent | Bald Head Island apartments for rent

4. Barnegat Light, NJ

• • Seasonal housing share: 97.2%
  • Total seasonal housing units: 1,020
  • Permanent population: 473
  • Barnegat Light median sale price: $1,490,000

Barnegat Light is the fourth-most seasonal town in the U.S. Technically a borough, it’s situated on the northern tip of Long Beach Island and is full of seaside homes, a lighthouse, and miles of beaches. Island Beach State Park lies just to the north, along with marine conservation zones that protect unique ecosystems. 

The Jersey Shore region is an iconic American getaway, and it shows. In 2024, the Shore saw almost 30% of the state’s nearly 124 million visitors.

Barnegat Light homes for sale | Barnegat Light houses for rent | Barnegat Light apartments for rent

5. Frisco, CO

• • Seasonal housing share: 96.9%
  • Total seasonal housing units: 2,344
  • Permanent population: 2,865
  • Frisco median sale price: $1,095,000

Frisco is one of many mountain towns in Colorado located near renowned ski resorts. Just a few miles to the south is Breckenridge, a destination legendary among skiers and mountaineers. Frisco’s top draws are a quaint downtown with family-owned shops, views of 14ers and alpine lakes, and a marina along Dillon Reservoir. 

Outdoor recreation is why most people move to the area, but with typical house prices topping $1 million, it’s very difficult to afford.

Frisco homes for sale | Frisco houses for rent | Frisco apartments for rent

6. Breckenridge, CO

• • Seasonal housing share: 96.7%
  • Total seasonal housing units: 5,518
  • Permanent population: 5,001
  • Breckenridge median sale price: $1,107,000

Breckenridge is synonymous with skiing, and for good reason: It offers access to five peaks and nearly 3,000 acres of skiable terrain, plus top-tier powder. So, it’s no surprise that thousands of people would purchase a second home for easy access. 

Mountain towns across the country saw house prices skyrocket during the pandemic, as remote workers and wealthy buyers raced to snatch up homes with outdoor access and plenty of space. In Colorado, this jump has priced out most locals, including towns like Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs, and Frisco.

Vail, Telluride, and Aspen (other high-end Colorado ski towns) have slightly lower seasonality, with housing shares of 86.8%, 82.8%, and 75%, respectively. Aspen in particular is known for its ultra-luxury housing and recently topped the charts with the most expensive listing in the nation.

Breckenridge homes for sale | Breckenridge houses for rent | Breckenridge apartments for rent

7. Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, WI

• • Seasonal housing share: 96.7%
  • Total seasonal housing units: 1,651
  • Permanent population: 1,633
  • Fontana-on-Geneva Lake median sale price: $572,500

Locally known as just “Fontana,” Fontana-on-Geneva Lake is a small village northeast of Chicago situated (unsurprisingly) on Geneva Lake. It’s primarily a resort town popular among water sports enthusiasts, and has a yacht club and marina. 

Because of the region’s natural beauty and proximity to Milwaukee and Chicago, it has long been a getaway for Midwestern millionaires. Large estates line small sections of the lake, owned by affluent Chicagoans like the Sears and Wrigley families. 

Fontana-on-Geneva Lake homes for sale | Fontana-on-Geneva Lake houses for rent | Fontana-on-Geneva Lake apartments for rent

8. Innsbrook, MO

• • Seasonal housing share: 96.4%
  • Total seasonal housing units: 1,158
  • Permanent population: 872
  • Innsbrook median sale price: $582,500

The village of Innsbrook is comprised almost entirely of the Innsbrook Resort, which is a private, gated community. Amenities include a full golf course, stables, seven nature trails, and lakeside relaxation. The town is just over an hour outside of St. Louis. Because of its exclusivity, it’s expensive relative to the rest of Missouri: the typical sale price is ~$600,000, double the statewide median. 

Innsbrook’s name is a nod to Austria’s famous Tyrol region, where the original “Innsbruck” is located. Even the A-frame architecture is faithfully replicated.

Innsbrook homes for sale | Innsbruck houses for rent | Innsbruck apartments for rent

9. Longport, NJ

• • Seasonal housing share: 96.4%
  • Total seasonal housing units: 1,070
  • Permanent population: 897
  • Longport median sale price: $2,825,000

Longport is located on the southern tip of Absecon Island, south of Atlantic City. It’s among the most expensive places to live in the state, as house prices along the Jersey Shore have skyrocketed in the last two decades. A typical house will run you $2 million or more. 

Longport homes for sale | Longport houses for rent | Longport apartments for rent

10. McCall, ID

• • Seasonal housing share: 96.1%
  • Total seasonal housing units: 2,708
  • Permanent population: 3,847
  • McCall median sale price: $581,000

Last on the list is McCall, ID, where 96% of homes are used seasonally. McCall is a resort town on the shores of Payette Lake, two hours north of Boise, known for its alpine wilderness and outdoor recreation. Homes can be very expensive, especially in the Whitetail area, but they pale in comparison to places like Aspen. 

McCall homes for sale | McCall houses for rent | McCall apartments for rent

Methodology

Based on an original Redfin report. Seasonal towns are defined as those where more than 30% of the housing stock is used only seasonally. There are 288 seasonal towns throughout the U.S. Housing stock is considered to be used only seasonally if it fits into the U.S. Census Bureau’s definition of seasonal, recreational, or occasional use. Housing market data is sourced from Redfin. Population data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. All other data as of August 2025. 

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