When many of us think of wine towns, we picture Napa or Sonoma, those renowned Northern California regions that seem to be synonymous with wine. The two regions produce some of the finest wines in the country and are home to many beautiful homes. Fame and beauty often cause homes in the area to command hefty price tags, leaving many to feel like their dream of living in a wine town is out of reach.
However, they aren’t the only wine regions in the country. Many working vineyards are located in sparsely populated rural areas, where low-cost homes abound like grapes on a vine. If you had your hopes set on relocating to a wine-lovers haven, you can still fulfill that dream. Take a look at our list of wine towns with the most affordable real estate.
To determine the most affordable wine towns, Moms Who Think reviewed five-year data on median household value and median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey. Cities, towns, and villages were ranked based on the ratio of median home value to median household income.
Only places with at least 1,000 residents with at least five wineries were considered. Data on wineries is from the 2022 County Business Patterns and was aggregated from zip codes to counties using boundary definitions from the Census Bureau. Boundaries for American Viticultural Areas is from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
50. Santa Maria, CA
©”Wine Country, U.S. 101 Between Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, California” by Ken Lund is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $438,100 (5.4 times income)
- Median household income: $81,237
- Total population: 109,543
- American Viticultural Area: Central Coast
49. Wenatchee, WA
©”East Wenatchee Washington- looking south” by Thayne Tuason is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $352,200 (5.3 times income)
- Median household income: $66,143
- Total population: 35,365
- American Viticultural Area: Columbia Valley
48. Murrieta, CA
©”Foothills of Santa Ana Mountains – Murrieta, California” by Z3lvs is licensed under CC0 1.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $567,700 (5.3 times income)
- Median household income: $106,925
- Total population: 111,899
- American Viticultural Area: South Coast
47. Boise City, ID
©ChrisBoswell/ via Getty Images
- Median home value: $401,800 (5.3 times income)
- Median household income: $76,402
- Total population: 234,192
- American Viticultural Area: Snake River Valley
46. Vacaville, CA
©Matt Gush/Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $560,400 (5.2 times income)
- Median household income: $106,764
- Total population: 101,631
- American Viticultural Area: N/A
45. Tualatin, OR
©”Bridgeport Village – Tualatin, Oregon (2019)” by Steve Morgan is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $548,900 (5.2 times income)
- Median household income: $105,542
- Total population: 27,804
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
44. American Canyon, CA
©Robin Craig/Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $638,000 (5.2 times income)
- Median household income: $122,694
- Total population: 21,669
- American Viticultural Area: Napa Valley
43. Tigard, OR
©”Shaver–Bilyeu House wide – Tigard, Oregon” by M.O. Stevens is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $525,100 (5.2 times income)
- Median household income: $101,354
- Total population: 55,161
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
42. Salem, OR
©”Cherry Blossoms Salem Oregon” by Edmund Garman is licensed under BY 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $349,500 (5.2 times income)
- Median household income: $67,540
- Total population: 175,754
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
41. West Linn, OR
©Victoria Ditkovsky/Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $677,500 (5.1 times income)
- Median household income: $134,116
- Total population: 27,167
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
40. Johnson City, TX
©Emily Marie Wilson/Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $228,000 (5.0 times income)
- Median household income: $45,160
- Total population: 1,755
- American Viticultural Area: Texas Hill Country
39. Roseburg, OR
©”A Forest near Roseburg, Oregon” by BLM Oregon & Washington is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $252,000 (5.0 times income)
- Median household income: $50,297
- Total population: 23,657
- American Viticultural Area: Umpqua Valley
38. Dripping Springs, TX
©”Texas Hill Country – Dripping Springs” by TravelingOtter is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $514,300 (4.9 times income)
- Median household income: $104,141
- Total population: 5,495
- American Viticultural Area: Texas Hill Country
37. College Place, WA
©CSNafzger/Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $294,700 (4.9 times income)
- Median household income: $60,417
- Total population: 9,796
- American Viticultural Area: Walla Walla Valley
36. Newberg, OR
©”Charles K. Spaulding House Newberg Oregon” by M.O. Stevens is licensed under BY 3.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $426,600 (4.9 times income)
- Median household income: $87,873
- Total population: 25,379
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
35. Dallas, OR
©”Polk County Courthouse, Dallas, Oregon (180924761)” by Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US is licensed under BY 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $328,400 (4.8 times income)
- Median household income: $67,935
- Total population: 16,945
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
34. Madera, CA
©Cascade Creatives/Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $296,800 (4.8 times income)
- Median household income: $61,626
- Total population: 66,784
- American Viticultural Area: Madera
33. Keizer, OR
©Victoria Ditkovsky/Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $363,600 (4.8 times income)
- Median household income: $75,753
- Total population: 39,122
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
32. Traverse City, MI
©iStock.com/Gary Ennis
- Median home value: $336,900 (4.8 times income)
- Median household income: $70,700
- Total population: 15,468
- American Viticultural Area: Old Mission Peninsula
31. Sherwood, OR
©”Maple trees in Sherwood, Oregon” by Bonnie Moreland (free images) is licensed under PDM 1.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $520,500 (4.7 times income)
- Median household income: $109,770
- Total population: 20,286
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
30. Palisade, CO
©”Palisade Area of Critical Environmental Concern, BLM Colorado” by mypubliclands is licensed under BY 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $261,600 (4.6 times income)
- Median household income: $56,359
- Total population: 2,571
- American Viticultural Area: Grand Valley
29. Hillsboro, OR
©Klay Strand/Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $452,300 (4.6 times income)
- Median household income: $98,891
- Total population: 106,612
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
28. Cornelius, OR
©”Skyport Airport – Cornelius Oregon” by Tedder is licensed under BY 3.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $379,400 (4.6 times income)
- Median household income: $83,051
- Total population: 13,245
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
27. Kennewick, WA
©David Parsons/iStock via Getty Images
- Median home value: $318,400 (4.5 times income)
- Median household income: $70,429
- Total population: 83,823
- American Viticultural Area: Columbia Valley
26. Dundee, OR
©”Furioso winery and vineyards, in autumn, Dundee, Oregon” by Bonnie Moreland (free images) is licensed under PDM 1.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $435,200 (4.4 times income)
- Median household income: $98,152
- Total population: 3,224
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
25. Caldwell, ID
©”Commercial Building (Caldwell, Idaho)” by Tamanoeconomico is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $284,000 (4.4 times income)
- Median household income: $65,259
- Total population: 61,212
- American Viticultural Area: Snake River Valley
24. Benton City, WA
©”Benton City from Horse Heaven Hills” by DJ Cane is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $224,200 (4.3 times income)
- Median household income: $51,558
- Total population: 3,498
- American Viticultural Area: Yakima Valley
23. Leesburg, VA
©”Center of Leesburg, Virginia 2012″ by Wallygva is licensed under BY-SA 3.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $572,500 (4.3 times income)
- Median household income: $132,298
- Total population: 48,465
- American Viticultural Area: N/A
22. Carlton, OR
©”Wennerberg Barn – Carlton Oregon” by Ian Poellet is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $385,800 (4.2 times income)
- Median household income: $92,500
- Total population: 2,339
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
21. Richland, WA
©”File:Timmerman Ferry site in Richland, Washington 5.jpg” by Allen4names is licensed under BY-SA 3.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $365,800 (4.1 times income)
- Median household income: $89,283
- Total population: 60,867
- American Viticultural Area: Columbia Valley
20. Dayton, OR
©969677/Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $307,600 (4.0 times income)
- Median household income: $76,014
- Total population: 2,677
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
19. Grapevine, TX
©”Grapevine Texas Main Street” by GrapevineTxOnline.com is licensed under BY 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $431,800 (4.0 times income)
- Median household income: $107,165
- Total population: 50,763
- American Viticultural Area: N/A
18. Milton-Freewater, OR
©”Ireland House – Milton-Freewater Oregon” by Ian Poellet is licensed under BY-SA 3.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $186,200 (4.0 times income)
- Median household income: $46,372
- Total population: 7,137
- American Viticultural Area: Walla Walla Valley
17. Prosser, WA
©”Horse Property at 158904 W North River Road Prosser, WA 99350″ by Joe Lane Photography is licensed under BY-ND 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $252,400 (3.9 times income)
- Median household income: $64,622
- Total population: 6,138
- American Viticultural Area: Columbia Valley
16. Zillah, WA
©”Teapot Dome Service Station, Zillah WA” by Iflorea is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $267,400 (3.9 times income)
- Median household income: $68,701
- Total population: 3,153
- American Viticultural Area: Yakima Valley
15. Purcellville, VA
©”File:2016-10-29 12 35 06 View west along Virginia State Route 7 Business (Main Street) at 21st Street in Purcellville, Loudoun County, Virginia.jpg” by Famartin is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $570,600 (3.8 times income)
- Median household income: $150,333
- Total population: 8,928
- American Viticultural Area: Middleburg Virginia
14. Lafayette, OR
©Jerry Sodorff Photography/Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $353,800 (3.8 times income)
- Median household income: $93,243
- Total population: 4,391
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
13. Amity, OR
©”Amity, Oregon” by Sam Beebe is licensed under BY 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $319,900 (3.6 times income)
- Median household income: $90,000
- Total population: 1,764
- American Viticultural Area: Willamette Valley
12. Stroudsburg, PA
©”Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania (4094522517)” by Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $205,100 (3.5 times income)
- Median household income: $58,412
- Total population: 5,897
- American Viticultural Area: Lehigh Valley
11. Southlake, TX
©”Home Southlake Texas” by Southlake Texas is licensed under BY 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $854,900 (3.4 times income)
- Median household income: $250,000
- Total population: 30,779
- American Viticultural Area: N/A
10. Coppell, TX
©”Coppell, Texas” by seeveeaar is licensed under BY-ND 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $489,700 (3.4 times income)
- Median household income: $143,817
- Total population: 42,513
- American Viticultural Area: N/A
9. West Richland, WA
©”West Richland Sunset” by Matt McGee is licensed under BY-ND 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $372,800 (3.2 times income)
- Median household income: $118,093
- Total population: 16,547
- American Viticultural Area: Columbia Valley
8. Sierra Vista, AZ
©Zane Lewis/Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $215,900 (3.0 times income)
- Median household income: $70,899
- Total population: 45,212
- American Viticultural Area: Sonoita
7. Flower Mound, TX
©”Flower Mound Texas Aerial” by formulanone is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $467,600 (3.0 times income)
- Median household income: $154,471
- Total population: 76,630
- American Viticultural Area: N/A
6. Willcox, AZ
©”S.R. 186, near Willcox, Arizona (2)” by Ken Lund is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $116,400 (2.8 times income)
- Median household income: $40,884
- Total population: 3,232
- American Viticultural Area: Willcox
5. Geneva, OH
©”South Broadway, Geneva, Ohio – 20220216″ by Andre Carrotflower is licensed under BY-SA 4.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $131,900 (2.8 times income)
- Median household income: $47,401
- Total population: 5,935
- American Viticultural Area: Lake Erie
4. Penn Yan, NY
©PQK/Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $137,000 (2.7 times income)
- Median household income: $50,878
- Total population: 5,134
- American Viticultural Area: Finger Lakes
3. Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH
©IanSkylake17/Shutterstock.com
- Median home value: $115,600 (2.5 times income)
- Median household income: $45,755
- Total population: 1,085
- American Viticultural Area: Lake Erie
2. North East, PA
©”Shorts Hotel North East Pennsylvania” by Canadian2006 is licensed under BY-SA 3.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $149,000 (2.4 times income)
- Median household income: $61,643
- Total population: 4,092
- American Viticultural Area: Lake Erie
1. Geneva, NY
©”20150829 04 Finger Lakes Rwy., Geneva, New York” by davidwilson1949 is licensed under BY 2.0. – Original / License
- Median home value: $123,100 (1.9 times income)
- Median household income: $63,602
- Total population: 12,670
- American Viticultural Area: Finger Lakes
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Hitdelight/Shutterstock.com.
