This Small Town in Louisiana’s Cajun Country Is One of the Most Affordable Lake Towns in the U.S.

Waterfront living is every homeowner’s dream. But with real estate prices and interest rates surging in recent years, that dream has become a mirage for many Americans. Don’t give up, however, if you’ve always wanted a home near a lake, since pockets with affordable housing still exist, according to Realtor.com.

The real estate website recently ranked the 10 cheapest lake towns in the country within half a mile of a lake, where median home values don’t exceed $210,000. And while the winner is Michigan’s Rogers City, if your heart is set on a Southern destination, consider the No. 2 spot, which is located in Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou.

Lockport, a town of several thousand full-time residents, is just a stone’s throw away east of Lake Fields, where the median home price is $145,500. 

The community of about 2,400 residents sits on Bayou Lafourche, dating back to 1899. After the locks on the canal connecting Bayou Lafourche with New Orleans were completed, the area, which was until then called Longueville, was renamed Lockport.

“Lockport, in Southeastern Louisiana, is surrounded by wetlands and bayous, and fishing is a core piece of the town’s economy,” Realtor.com states.

Today, the town is known for its culinary scene and especially for its rich Cajun heritage. It hosts La Fete du Monde every spring, a two-day festival with rides, music, dancing, arts and crafts, and authentic Cajun food. The town is also part of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Food Trail.

Lockport is a newcomer on Realtor.com’s list this year. The third spot goes to Fox Lake, Illinois, north of Chicago, where the median home price is $159,500.

Like last year, all ten most affordable lake towns are in the Midwest, South, and the East Coast. You can see the full list on realtor.com.