Small Southwest Michigan town named one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the US

A tiny Southwest Michigan town has been named one of the most expensive places to live in the country.

Lakeside in Berrien County on the shores of Lake Michigan has been named as one of the most expensive and upscale towns in the US, according to HGTV.

The quaint town full of historic homes has a population of under 300 people.

It is known for its rustic architecture, excellent public schools and stunning lake views.

The average home in Lakeside costs $2,652,417 -'though you may pay more for Lake Michigan frontage,' HGTV reported.

'A nine-bedroom Georgian estate with a wine cellar, swimming pool and guest house is on track to be among the priciest sales thanks to a list price of $9,450,000,' the report said.

The town became a popular vacation spot for those living in Chicago in the early 1920s.

Though small the town still has plenty to cater for visitors including the 19th century 31-room Lakeside Inn, which features a 100-foot porch facing Lake Michigan.

The inn also has its own private beach for guests on the lake.

'Known as Ames Grove, this property served as a picnic ground and recreation area beginning in the 1880s,' the Inn states on its website.

The hotel once had its own zoo as well as a long history of hosting orchestras and other artists.

The town has something for all tastes including Burnison Galleries for the artistically minded, representing works from all disciplines across the 19th, 20th and 21st century.

There are also antique shops such as Lakeside Antiques which sell an array of furniture, fine art and accessories.

Other towns featured on the list of the most expensive places to live were the likes of Southampton in New York and Stowe, Vermont.

Southampton is a celebrity hotspot with the likes of Brooke Shields and Calvin Klein spending their summers at their beachside mansions.

Vermont, though more lowkey is no less affluent with wealthy visitors flocking there each winter to take advantage of its ski slopes.

The average price for a mountain home in Stowe was $2.6 million this year, and a 2022 listing for a $17.5 million mansion set a record for the most expensive home in the state.

Ann Arbor and Traverse City in Michigan were both ranked in the top 25 best places to spent your retirement in 2024.

'With frontage on an inlet of Lake Michigan, Traverse City has water sports, more than 30 area golf courses and a reputation as a top dining town,' Forbes magazine said of the selection.

While Traverse City has a typical home price slightly higher than the national average, the cost of living in the Midwest city is 4 percent lower than in the rest of the country.

It is also close to the famous Interlochen Center for the Arts, which hosts scores of music performances.