Top 184 Most Desired Lakefront Homes in North America [2025 Survey]

We recently ran a survey of over 3,000 Americans and Canadians to uncover the top lakefront picks across North America.

It's easy to romanticize lakefront living - coffee on the dock, swims at sunset - but when you look closer at where people are dreaming of buying, the list reveals something deeper about our priorities, patterns, and personalities.

The results are illustrated below:

Key Findings

Here's what stood out from our survey on the top lakefront picks across North America:

California dominates the top 3.

Big Bear Lake, Lake Tahoe, and Shasta Lake all make the podium. What do they have in common? Proximity to major cities, year-round appeal, and that elusive blend of nature-meets-accessibility. It's less about remote isolation, more about having it all.

Tennessee punches above its weight.

With three entries in the top 15 (Norris Lake, Center Hill Lake, and Douglas Lake), Tennessee quietly outpaces flashier states. Lower taxes, lower costs, and miles of shoreline may be the formula for its steady rise.

Canada's presence is regional, not just national.

Rather than one standout province, Canadian lake picks are sprinkled across Alberta, PEI, BC, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. It reflects how lake culture is deeply embedded nationwide, from coastal inlets to glacial mountain lakes.

Some states show depth, not just well-known locations.

Florida, Michigan, and North Carolina each boast multiple entries - but not always the ones you'd expect. Places like Lake Santa Fe and Apple Valley Lake suggest buyers are branching beyond the usual suspects, trading tourism for tranquility.

New Mexico is quietly full of surprises.

With four lakes in the top 60 - Navajo Lake, Heron Lake, Elephant Butte, and Lake Clark - New Mexico is showing up as very popular among potential buyers. Whether it's affordability, climate, or sheer space, the Southwest is staking a claim in lakefront living.

Luxury isn't always the point.

While exclusive enclaves like Jackson Lake (WY) and Incline Village (NV) made the cut, so did places like Flathead Lake (MT) and Lake Weir (FL), where the emphasis is more on natural beauty than gated prestige.

Northeastern states show steady interest.

New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont all appear multiple times, reminding us that the original lakehouse daydream - summer swimming, fishing, porches - still holds powerful sway in the East.

Final Thoughts

This list isn't just about where people want to buy - it's a mirror of what they're seeking. Space, yes. Views, of course. But also balance.

Whether it's mid-range markets like Kentucky and Arkansas or iconic spots like Tahoe, the most desirable lakes are offering more than a summer escape. They promise the chance to slow down, tune out, and reconnect - without leaving civilization behind.

Methodology

Online panel survey of 3,007 respondents in the U.S. and Canada, based on age, gender, and geography. Internal data sources are used to obtain population data sets. We used a two-step process to ensure representativeness through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting.

Respondents are carefully chosen from a geographically representative online panel of double opt-in members. This selection is further tailored to meet the precise criteria required for each unique survey. Throughout the survey, we design questions to carefully screen and authenticate respondents, guaranteeing the alignment of the survey with the ideal participants.

To ensure the integrity of our data collection, we employ an array of data quality methods. Alongside conventional measures like digital fingerprinting, bot checks, geo-verification, and speeding detection, etc. each response undergoes a thorough review by a dedicated team member to ensure quality and contextual accuracy. Our commitment extends to open-ended responses, subjecting them to scrutiny for gibberish answers and plagiarism detection.