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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19. Bismarck, ND

Lewis & Clark Riverboat on the Missouri River

Median home price (2007): $153,500

Median family income: $66,510

Before Custer made his last stand at the Battle of Little Bighorn, he made his home at Fort Abraham Lincoln, just across the Missouri River from Bismarck, North Dakota's capital city. Custer may be gone, but Fort Lincoln remains as a historical site--see Custer's house, tour a reconstructed Mandan Indian village, or admire Native American art at the Five Nations Gallery.

You can build your dream home from scratch in Bismarck on the banks of the Missouri--empty lots start at $120,000. Or buy an already-built spacious, two-bedroom riverside condo for around $320,000. The city is flush with public golf courses, many of which are situated along the historic Lewis and Clark Trail, plus more than 30 miles of trails for walking, jogging, and biking.

See complete data on Bismarck from Best Places to Live

Homes for sale in Bismarck

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