25 best places for affordable homes

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.

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18. Canyon Lake, TX

Aerial view of Canyon Lake and Dam on the Guadalupe River

Median home price (2007): $135,236

Median family income: $59,123

Anglers will be hooked on Canyon Lake, where the nearby Guadalupe River teems with rainbow trout. Fishermen opting for bass and catfish can cast their lures in the town's namesake, Canyon Lake.

Custom-built homes surround the lake--a typical 2,300-square-foot home with three bedrooms and a lake view might start at $400,000; million-dollar houses line the waterfront. Several medical clinics keep the locals healthy, although the nearest hospital is about half an hour away.

For a little summertime rest and relaxation, grab an inner tube and a cooler of beer and head to the river for some "tubing," a favorite local pastime.

See complete data on Canyon Lake from Best Places to Live

Homes for sale in Canyon Lake

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