MOST AFFORDABLE HOMES

If you have the freedom to live wherever you want, you can get fantastic homes at bargain prices. Here are some cities and towns that are thriving, but still have the most affordable real estate:

1. Nicholasville, Kentucky. Located just miles from Lexington, Nicholasville has a median home price of $70,000 and a median family income of $53,000. You can buy a three-bedroom single family home for under $100,000.

2. Watauga, Texas. With median family incomes in Watauga at $73,000 and median home prices at just $117,000, you can get a lot of house for very little money. Three bedroom single family homes can be had for just $65,000. An additional bonus to living is Watauga is energy: much of the residential property has natural gas reserves below it, and energy companies are paying residents thousands of dollars for the right to tap into those gas reserves.

3. Redan, Georgia. Just twenty minutes from Atlanta, Redan has a median household income of $71,000 and median home prices of $115,000. Redan is a small town, but its proximity to Stone Mountain National Park makes it a great town for those who enjoy the outdoors.

4. Franklin, Indiana. Home prices in Franklin run the gamut from less than $60,000 to nearly three-quarters of a million dollars. Nevertheless, the median home price in this growing community is just $103,000. With median family incomes at $65,555, there's plenty of real estate for middle class working families.

5. Clay, New York. A suburb of Syracuse, Clay is a growing community with increasing job opportunities. At least for now, the median home price in Clay is $124,000 and the median family income is $74,500. With the county offering businesses incentives to move to Clay, prices may not stay low for long.

6. Plainfield, Indiana. Plainfield is another small community that's on the move, attracting new businesses and new jobs. The median home price in Plainfield is just $124,000, and the median family income is $72,000.

7. Marion, Iowa. Marion is an older town just a few miles from Cedar Rapids. The downtown area features specialty shops and restaurants for residents as well as the tourists who flock to the town. Still, the town boasts a median home price of just $132,000, with median family incomes around $76,000.

8. Omaha, Nebraska. One of the few larger cities on our list, Omaha still offers all of the convenience and amenities of a large city, yet has median home prices of just $113,000. While employment opportunities range from blue collar to executive, the median family income is $65,000. Good quality homes can be had for just $125,000.

9. Bellevue, Nebraska. Once considered a semi-suburb of Omaha, Bellevue is now a city unto itself, with increasing construction and job opportunities. The median price of a home is a modest $120,000, and the median family income is $69,000.

10. Russellville, Arkansas. Russellville once again makes the list of towns with the most affordable housing. Russellville is an older town that's been a destination for hunters, anglers and campers for decades. The low median home price of $85,000 means that you can buy an incredible home for a fraction of what you'd pay elsewhere in the US. The median family income is $49,000.

These are but a few of the thousands of cities and towns in the US where your dollars buy more home. For those whose jobs let them live anywhere, or for retired people, these housing markets are a bargain.