Jensen Beach, Florida

It's a relaxed Treasure Coast community on the Indian River Lagoon with quick ocean access and its own assigned schools — Jensen Beach Elementary, Stuart Middle, and Jensen Beach High. The townhomes & condos and coastal setting suit both retirees and families who want water close by without the pace of a bigger city.

It leans upscale: the median list price is $837,450 and half the active listings are priced above $1M. That said, the range stretches down to $148,888, so there are entry points if you're patient and willing to browse by price.

Active prices run from $148,888 to $1,275,000, with a median of $837,450 and an average of about $454 per square foot on a median home size of 1,521 sqft. With three of four listings being condos, much of what's available now is townhomes & condos rather than detached houses.

It's very tight — only four active listings, so choices are limited and good ones move. Homes are currently sitting a median of about 53 days on market, which gives serious buyers a little room to negotiate on the right property.

Because the inventory here is condo-heavy, HOA costs run high — the median is about $2,408 per month, which typically covers building and coastal-community maintenance. The median annual property tax is around $9,885, so factor both into your monthly budget when comparing the gated communities and oceanfront buildings.