Beat the Heat With Lakefront Living: realtor.com® Ranks Affordable Lake Towns

It's been a scorcher this summer, with temperatures reaching record highs. So it's no wonder the masses are heading toward the water in search of a summer heat reprieve.

Related: Great Spaces: Beachfront Living at Its Best

Forget beach houses, however. Lake towns are trending and realtor.com® just announced the best affordable lake towns of 2019. Here's how they rank, according to the report:

1. Branson, Mo.

Median List Price: $205,900

2. East Stroudsburg, Pa.

$187,000

3. Port Clinton, Ohio

$259,900

4. Jamestown, N.Y. (Chautauqua County)

$59,900

5. Alexandria, Minn.

$288,900

6. Clearlake, Calif.

$219,900

7. Spirit Lake, Ind.

$315,000

8. Mountain Home, Ark.

$174,900

9. Baraboo, Wis.

$189,900

10. Sandpoint, Ind.

$429,000

Where should you buy your lakefront vacation home? It all depends on what you're looking for. Realtor.com®'s rankings reflect properties listed on its website that appeared after searching phrases like "lake view" and "lake house" across 900 U.S. metropolitan and micropolitan areas. Only locations that had over 50 listings in a 12-month period, as well as median home prices below $450,000, made the cut. Also taken into consideration were amenities—what percentage of these homes offer easy access to dining, drinking and outdoor activities?

For those who like paddle boats and water skiing, Branson's Table Rock Lake offers 43,000 acres for water sport enjoyment. If you're looking for some antique shopping, Port Clinton may be more your taste. But if fishing is what you love to do, take a look at Mountain Home for some grade-A bass catching.

"Lake towns offer people an affordable destination with water sports, amenities, natural beauty and an array of often top-quality dining options," said Clare Trapasso, senior news editor at realtor.com®, in a statement. "Some of these lake towns also double as ski resorts in the winter. Those who enjoy cold-weather sports, in addition to summer activities may, in fact, be getting a home they can enjoy throughout the year."

For more information on lakefront living, visit www.realtor.com.