Rebecca Fishbein

Prices on the North Fork are lower than the Hamptons, but for an even better deal on a home minutes from the water, consider a community in Suffolk County that's not quite in the tony East End, but still pretty close.

St. Louis has a lovely collection of historic and walkable neighborhoods, all of which are within easy commuting distance to the commercial hubs (St. Louis is known as the "20-minute city," thanks to its relatively light commuting-time average), and many of which are full of gorgeous homes priced much lower than what you'd find in Manhattan. Here's a taste of what's out there. 

Madison, Connecticut is a town in New Haven County, located along the Connecticut Sound shoreline. That prime location has blessed the town with some beautiful waterfront parks. And, of course, there's some lovely properties here with views of the Sound including this four-bedroom, three-bath colonial at 8 Tuxis Rd., now on the market for $925,000.

Rhinecliff, New York, was founded in 1686, making it one of the oldest communities in the U.S. This two-bedroom, three-bath house at 7 Charles St., now on the market for $595,000. The house was built in 1860, and has a distinct vintage interior.

The Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale area has a median home price of $209,483—and a cost of living that's two percent lower than the national average, making it an attractive prospect for young families looking for a place to settle.

Sugar Hill, N.H., and its surrounding area have some incredible real estate, with big mountain houses surrounded by pristine pockets of nature, all for reasonable prices. Consider, for instance, the four-bedroom, three-bath house at 189 Birches Rd., now on the market for $539,000. The house was built in 2000, and sits on a nearly 10-acre lot. The views are breathtaking.