16 best places to buy a second home in 2025

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Pacaso’s Editorial Team
July 10, 2025
 A family enjoys dinner on their patio in one of the best places for a second home.
For many, buying a second home is a dream come true, offering the freedom and flexibility to relax and recharge in your favorite vacation spot whenever you want. To make sure you get all you hope for out of your second home, it’s important to know what you’re looking for and where you want to be looking for it. 
Location, lifestyle, attractions and budget are all factors. To help you narrow it down, we’ve compiled 16 of the best places for a second home or vacation home in the U.S. — ordered by their median home prices — to help you find the spot that’s calling your name.   

Top 16 places for a second home

CityMedian home prices
Whitewater, Wisconsin$380,000
Savannah, Georgia$423,900
St. Augustine, Florida$592,000
Charleston, South Carolina$675,000
Vail, Colorado$675,000
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina$692,000
Palm Springs, California$750,000
Barnstable Town, MA $875,000
Bend, Oregon$879,900
Scottsdale, Arizona$1,100,000
Napa Valley, California$1,200,000
Maui, Hawaii$1,200,000
Ocean City, New Jersey$1,300,000
Steamboat Springs, Colorado$1,400,000
The Keys, Florida$1,500,000
Park City, Utah$1,900,000
Water flows over the rocks of Whitewater, Wisconsin, embodying why it’s one of the best places for a second home.

1. Whitewater, Wisconsin

Whitewater is close to the Kettle Moraine State Forest, giving nature-lovers all they could hope for in a retreat. It has biking trails, multiple lakes and dark night skies that are perfect for stargazing. The city is also only a one-hour drive from Milwaukee and two hours from Chicago, providing convenient access to big city entertainment. The nearest major airport is Milwaukee Mitchell International, which is 50 miles away. 
A ferry sits on the water with Savannah, Georgia’s skyline in the background, embodying why it’s one of the best places for a second home.

2. Savannah, Georgia

  • Median home price: $423,900
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 3.7%
  • Key features: historic, walkable and close to the riverfront and the beach
Savannah makes the list as one of the best vacation home locations thanks to its riverfront properties and classic Southern charm. This is one of the more affordable towns to buy property in this list, allowing you to get plenty of bang for your buck. If cobblestone streets, Spanish moss-covered trees of Forsyth Park, historic architecture and a scenic riverfront are missing from your primary home, moving near the Savannah Historic District may offer all you need. Plus, it’s only a 25-minute drive to Tybee Island. 
Local shops populate the tightly packed streets of St. Augustine, Florida, embodying why it’s one of the best places for a second home.

3. St. Augustine, Florida

  • Median home price: $592,000
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 12.1%
  • Key features: proximity to beach, historic sites
St. Augustine was founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers and is among the oldest inhabited cities in the country. Those historic roots play an important role in its present-day culture. Visitors can still see the Spanish influence all over the buildings, with fortresses like Castillo de San Marcos and cathedrals like the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine being preserved to this day. Its prime location near St. Augustine Beach and Crescent Beach makes it a perfect oceanside escape, and it’s just a short drive from Jacksonville. 
Palm trees and old fashioned buildings line the downtown streets of Charleston, South Carolina, embodying why it’s one of the best places for a second home.

4. Charleston, South Carolina

  • Median home price: $675,000
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 6.9%
  • Key features: history, great food scene and walkable downtown
Charleston is a hot commodity thanks in part to its regular appearances on lists of the best places to live. The city even ranked in the top five on our own list of the most relaxing places to visitThis charming port city is one of the best second home locations thanks to its subtropical climate and ocean access. Here, you’ll find cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and gorgeous parks like The Battery and Waterfront Park. It’s also a popular place to buy vacation rental properties and beachfront second homes. And if the hospitality isn’t enough to remind you that you’re in the South, the quaint architecture of downtown’s French Quarter surely will.
People walk through the streets of Vail, Colorado with mountains in the background, embodying why it’s one of the best places for a second home.

5. Vail, Colorado

  • Median home price: $675,000
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 32.5%
  • Key features: mountains, nature, winter sports and activities
Vail is a mountain town where residents live in luxury as they hit the slopes. It’s one of the best places for a second home due to the quality of life it provides. With a pedestrian street system and free shuttle, visitors can easily make their way from their vacation home to the many restaurants, spas and shops that fill the villages.  And when the snow melts, the town transforms into an amazing summer destination. From adventurous activities like whitewater rafting on the Colorado and Arkansas Rivers to farmers markets and outdoor concerts, there are endless things to do in Vail in the summer.
A lighthouse and oceanfront buildings fill Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, embodying why it’s one of the best places for a second home.

6. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

  • Median home price: $692,000
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 17.7%
  • Key features: nature, family-friendly and beach proximity
Hilton Head Island is located between Charleston and Savannah, providing a less congested escape for people looking to unwind in a charming vacation home. The island is packed with wildlife, providing sights of sea turtles, manatees and dolphins. Visitors can shop at more than 60 specialty stores or hone their golf game at one of 32 courses.
Palm trees and upscale businesses fill the desert oasis of Palm Springs, California, embodying why it’s one of the best places for a second home.

7. Palm Springs, California

  • Median home price: $750,000
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 8.5%
  • Key features: close to the beach, desert wildlife and Hollywood history
Palm Springs is a bucket list destination for people who’ve dreamt of rubbing shoulders with the old school Hollywood elite, like Frank Sinatra. Countless celebrities have called the city home over the years, leaving an unmistakable mark on its personality.Fans of Mid-Century Modern architecture will be hard pressed to find a better city to serve as their time capsule. Hikes through the desert bring spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and wildlife. Afternoon retreats at your luxurious Palm Springs home will let you unwind and watch the desert sunset.
Autumn leaves fill the trees of a New England town, embodying why it’s one of the best places for a second home.

8. Barnstable Town, MA 

  • Median second-home price: $875,000
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 36.7%
  • Key features: beaches, cultural and art districts
Cape Cod’s largest town has access to over 100 miles of beaches, including gorgeous barrier beaches like Sandy Neck. The town of Barnstable is comprised of seven villages, each with its own distinct personality. With plenty of nearby fishing towns, harbors and lighthouses, Barnstable is a water-lover’s paradise. But appreciators of art will also find this town alluring. Barnstable also has two cultural districts, Barnstable Village Cultural District and Hyannis HyArts, which boast plenty of galleries, performances and museums.
The downtown area of Bend, Oregon sits surrounded by nature, embodying why it’s one of the best places for a second home.

9. Bend, Oregon

  • Median home price: $879,900
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 11.8%
  • Key features: natural beauty, hiking and brewery culture
Craft beer enthusiasts may want to take a special interest in Bend when looking for their home away from home. The area has the highest concentration of microbreweries in the state and one of the largest beer trails in the West. However, there’s more to do in this vacation destination than just drink suds — the area also has over 50 miles of urban trails and plenty of summer festivals to keep you entertained.
Cacti and rocky mountains cover the wilderness surrounding Scottsdale, Arizona, embodying why it’s one of the best places for a second home.

10. Scottsdale, Arizona

  • Median home price: $1.1 million
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 4.8%
  • Key features: warm weather, proximity to large cities
Scottsdale is quickly becoming the mecca for snowbirds looking to skip winter weather and dodge the tropical storms of the Southeast. Here you’ll find year-round sunshine and zero humidity. You can watch baseball teams conduct spring training or spend your days on a golf course or in a spa. You’ll also have easy access to everything nearby Phoenix has to offer.
A scenic vineyard with golden rows of grapevines and rolling hills shows why Napa Valley is among the best places for a second home.

11. Napa Valley, California

  • Median second-home price: $1.2 million
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 6.9%
  • Key features: wine country, hillsides and nature, great food
North of San Francisco, Napa Valley is wine country — with over 400 wineries and many fantastic restaurants (15 of which have Michelin stars), owning a second home here is a foodie’s dream. Napa Valley contains five different towns, all full of things to do. Vacations to your Napa Valley home are bound to be full of wine tastings, hiking through hills, spa visits and other luxuries. 
Palm trees line the coast of Maui, Hawaii at sunset, embodying why it’s one of the best places for a second home.

12. Maui, Hawaii

  • Median home price: $1.2 million
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 11%
  • Key features: beautiful beaches, nature activities and hiking
Hawaii and paradise are often spoken in the same breath, and there’s no better representation of that than Maui. The island is world-renowned for its beaches and sunsets, providing great views of humpback whales just off the shore. Buying a second home here means regularly dining on farm-to-table food and hiking on picturesque trails.  
An image shows the beaches of Ocean City, NJ, one of the best places for a second home.

13. Ocean City, New Jersey

  • Median second-home price: $1.3 million
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 51%
  • Key features: family friendly, beach activities, shopping and entertainment
Located on the Jersey Shore, Ocean City is a family-friendly beach getaway. This fun, beachy town is famous for its 8-mile Ocean City Boardwalk, which is full of shopping, biking, amusement parks and other entertainment. Choosing Ocean City as your regular getaway spot means tons of activities for the whole party, including fishing, lounging at the beach, surfing and treating yourself to plenty of saltwater taffy.
An image shows a luxury home in Steamboat Springs, a top place to own a second home.

14. Steamboat Springs, Colorado

  • Median second-home price: $1.4 million
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 29.7%
  • Key features: winter sports and activities, natural beauty
If winter activities are more your speed, check out the winter wonderland that is Steamboat Springs. A known ski resort hotspot, Steamboat Springs is a prime place for winter sports. But there’s much to do off the slopes, too. It’s also 150 miles from Denver and has its own airport. Located in the Yampa Valley, Steamboat Springs is surrounded by mountains and sits on a river. The myriad nature activities, like canoeing on Pearl Lake or soaking in geothermal hot springs at Old Town Hot Springs, undoubtedly make this town one of the best places to own a second home.
Lights from a boat illuminate the waters off an island of The Keys, Florida, embodying why it’s one of the best places for a second home.

15. The Keys, Florida

  • Median home price: $1.5 million
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 25%
  • Key features: beaches, water activities and tropical feel
While Key West is probably the best known of this island chain, the others have too much to offer to be left out. With miles upon miles of sandy coastlines, you’re bound to find your perfect spot on the beach before hitting the southernmost point in the United States. These small islands are brimming with stories about shipwrecks and celebrities. It’s hard to think of a place more fitting of the word “paradise.”
Houses cover the snowy mountainside of Park City, Utah, embodying why it’s one of the best places for a second home.

16. Park City, Utah

  • Median home price: $1.9 million
  • Percentage of homeowners with a second home in the county: 39.2%
  • Key features: nature activities and natural beauty, large properties
Park City gives hopeful buyers a healthy mix between the great outdoors and homebound elegance. Luxury homes, second homes and vacation rentals in this destination often have gourmet kitchens, so you can recover with a proper meal after a full day of skiing.There are more reasons to live in Park City than just for the winters. Buying a Park City vacation home means being close to the Sundance Film Festival, Grand Teton National Park and Olympic Park. 

4 factors to consider when buying a second home

The real estate cliche about location, location, location is just as true for second homes as it is for primary residences. It’s all about where you’ll spend your time and build your memories. We’ve identified a few factors to consider when searching through the best places for your second home. The real estate cliche about location, location, location is just as true for second homes as it is for primary residences. It’s all about where you’ll spend your time and build your memories. Below, we’ve identified four factors to consider — travel time, seasonal preferences, lifestyle and home use — when searching for where to buy a second home.

Travel time

By travel time, we mean the time it takes to get to your second home. You’ll also need to factor in how far your getaway is from family members and attractions.No matter where you live, you're likely to use your second home more if you don’t have a spirit-breaking slog to get there. If you want the flexibility of driving to your destination, identify communities you love within a two-to-three-hour drive time from your primary home and family members. It's the reason Palm Springs and Las Vegas have long appealed to Angelenos, and why Napa, Sonoma and Lake Tahoe are retreats of choice for many San Franciscans.If you don't mind hopping on a plane and plan to use your home less often but for longer stretches, you could buy a second home in another part of the country. This will make planning ahead important, so factor both time and cost of travel into your buying equation.Make sure to consider locations with your preferred amenities and attractions nearby. A remote location might look enticing until you have to drive an hour to get to the nearest beach. 

Seasonal preferences

Some vacation home locations cater to seasonal visitors — think ski towns or sunny snowbird destinations. These bustling communities may transform into quiet, locals-only spots in the off-season.If you are looking for a second home for seasonal use, like skiing in the winter or lake access for summertime fun, it's wise to research weather and real estate market conditions to get the full picture of when to come to your home. You’ll want to know if roads near your summer home get plowed in the winter, or if your ski chalet is plagued with mosquitoes come summer. If you plan to use your home year-round, the community will be a big factor in your buying decision. Are there recreational clubs, events, shops and services that meet your needs?The more you know about where you’re going to buy, the more confident you'll feel that you've picked the best location for your second home.

Lifestyle

Consider the kind of life you want to live in your second home.Does a remote home surrounded by nature appeal to you, or do you want to be within a stone's throw from urban amenities? Are you semi-retired and looking for new adventures, or are you in a young family seeking fun, family-friendly activities?Isolated locations are appealingly peaceful. If nature is important to you, what recreational activities are nearby? Explore area hiking and biking trails, and check out boating and fishing spots. If it's a ski hill you're after, see what it offers in both winter and summer. The tradeoffs of an isolated spot are fewer amenities, less access to satellite internet and more drive time to get to restaurants and activities. In addition to streaming Netflix, you may want the option of working remotely. That will require a reliable connection, powerful enough for video conferencing.On the other hand, city living comes with less privacy but more proximity to good food — a draw for many buyers. Larger cities may also give you peace of mind knowing there's a hospital close by. Or, you may need to be near a train or airport. Identify the services you can’t forego while spending time at your second home. Having these questions top of mind can help reassure you that you’re making the right decision.

Home use 

Finally, what is your goal for your second home?Are you looking for a private home to enjoy with your family and friends, or are you interested in a vacation rental property that can provide some annual gross rental revenue?You may choose to use the home as a secondary residence, a vacation home or a place for your kids to stay. How you use the home may determine whether it’s better to consider co-ownership. Co-ownership is one smart option for owning a home you’ll enjoy periodically throughout the year. You purchase a fraction of the property, share costs with fellow co-owners, and easily schedule your stays with an app. 

Consider a second home with Pacaso

After researching the best places for a second home, it’s time to consider your buying options. You can make your dreams a reality by co-owning a luxury home with Pacaso. With a portfolio of elite vacation homes all over the world, we make it easy for you to co-own a vacation home for you and your family to enjoy whenever you need to get away.

Best places for a second home FAQ

01: Is it harder to get a mortgage on a second home?

Generally, yes, it is more difficult and time consuming to secure a mortgage for a second home. Lenders have more strict requirements like higher credit scores, better debt to income ratio and higher down payments. However, when you purchase and finance your home through Pacaso, the process is streamlined for a quick and easy buying experience.

02: What is a good rate for a second mortgage?

Interest rates will depend largely on the current market environment. But you should expect a good rate to be less than your credit card, but likely higher than your first mortgage rate. This will also vary by location. For example, current 30-year fixed mortgage rates in South Carolina are around 6.49%

03: Are 2nd home mortgage rates higher?

Yes, typically, second mortgage rates are higher because lenders perceive increased risk. However, interest rates depend on a variety of factors like your credit score and down payment.

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