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.

The gazebo in East Park, where residents can catch free concerts
Median home price (2007): $133,400
Median family income: $71,076
For a bit of old-fashioned American fun in Wadsworth, grab some ice cream at family-owned Bidinger's, then head to the Blue Sky Drive-In for a movie. Or take the car for a half-hour trip to Lake Erie for camping, picnicking, or water sports.
You might find a two-bedroom house in historic downtown for $200,000, where a nearby park hosts free concerts from a picturesque gazebo. A newly built condo could cost a little more.
Once known for manufacturing "blue-tip" strike-anywhere matches, the city still celebrates that history with the annual "Blue Tip Match Festival," which includes a carnival and parade, kicked off with the lighting of a 20-foot-tall match.
See complete data on Wadsworth from Best Places to Live
Homes for sale in Wadsworth
NEXT: North Augusta, SC
Last updated September 22 2008: 11:09 AM ET
Source: Home prices, income stats from Onboard Informatics