Every material sold on this coast has a real weakness. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling, not advising. Here's the straight comparison.
Wood
The case for it: the warmest look, easy to repair one board at a time, and the friendliest up-front cost. The coastal catch: wood asks for the most from you here. Humidity and sun cycle it constantly, fasteners stain it as they age, and it wants cleaning and re-sealing on a schedule. Skip the upkeep and a coastal wood fence grays and loosens years ahead of an inland one. Choose it if you love the look and will maintain it — it can serve well, especially with hot-dip galvanized or stainless fasteners.
Vinyl
The case for it: salt air simply doesn't interest it. No rot, no rust, no repainting — washing is the maintenance. Good privacy panels. The catch: the sun is its enemy more than the salt; cheap thin-wall vinyl gets brittle with UV years, and a full privacy panel is a sail in a storm, which makes post depth even more critical in sand. Buy quality wall thickness and set posts deep.
Aluminum
The case for it: the closest thing to a no-argument coastal material — powder-coated aluminum shrugs off salt air, never rots, and looks sharp for pool enclosures and front yards. The catch: it's an open-picket style, so it gives no privacy and less wind blocking, and its up-front cost sits at the higher end.
Our honest short version
Closest to open water: aluminum, or quality vinyl for privacy. Sheltered neighborhoods: any of the three, chosen by look, privacy, and how much maintenance you'll really do. Every option depends on posts set right in sand and coastal-rated hardware. See the full fencing service or get an estimate and we'll walk your yard.