Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Bernardston, MA 01337

Bernardston: median income $85,045, home value $338,800, $233/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Haven, VT 05472 95%102$92,537$378,000$217 pricier homes ($39K more)
Black Earth, WI 53515 95%867$92,625$361,300$218 Very close on everything we compare
Mazomanie, WI 53560 95%868$98,409$358,000$228 Very close on everything we compare
Random Lake, WI 53075 94%778$93,750$297,100$212 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Garretson, SD 57030 94%1,204$79,375$327,400$214 Very close on everything we compare
Big Timber, MT 59011 94%1,845$78,000$328,100$211 Very close on everything we compare
Turtle Lake, WI 54889 93%989$77,143$257,100$288 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Cascade Locks, OR 97014 93%2,412$75,000$387,700$246 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Wallowa, OR 97885 93%2,209$76,645$402,900$234 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Walpole, NH 03608 92%28$88,224$355,600$219 Very close on everything we compare
Spring Green, WI 53588 92%884$83,417$292,300$232 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Amherst, WI 54406 92%844$77,533$284,800$186 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Coon Valley, WI 54623 92%929$88,864$276,400$181 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Winneconne, WI 54986 92%815$93,189$300,900$228 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Craryville, NY 12521 91%66$75,652$338,700$290 Very close on everything we compare
Millerton, NY 12546 91%71$84,455$313,300$313 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Lenhartsville, PA 19534 91%224$80,357$293,100$204 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Union, MI 49130 91%681$76,667$341,900$245 smaller
Cedar Grove, WI 53013 91%771$84,375$277,900$236 cheaper homes ($61K less) · younger residents
Oostburg, WI 53070 91%769$91,557$282,000$194 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Stoddard, WI 54658 91%938$73,438$249,800$216 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Cleveland, MN 56017 91%1,068$88,056$330,900$211 5 min longer commute
Pelican Rapids, MN 56572 91%1,181$79,475$298,800$226 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Joliet, MT 59041 91%1,802$80,500$411,700$189 pricier homes ($73K more)
Wiscasset, ME 04578 90%171$81,063$327,400$234 larger

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.