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 Orleans, MA 02653

Orleans: median income $102,813, home value $960,600, $503/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cambria, CA 93428 88%2,749$99,762$932,500$691 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Saint Michaels, MD 21663 81%388$89,775$650,500$438 cheaper homes ($310K less) · smaller · younger residents
Sedona, AZ 86351 80%2,295$81,203$738,000$432 cheaper homes ($223K less) · newer homes
Sanibel, FL 33957 79%1,262$108,644$957,300$572 more apartments and townhomes
Ogunquit, ME 03907 78%107$114,259$875,700$595 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 78%500$120,662$677,600$403 cheaper homes ($283K less) · younger residents
Langley, WA 98260 78%2,553$101,987$678,400$487 cheaper homes ($282K less) · 10 min longer commute · newer homes
Lopez Island, WA 98261 78%2,566$80,119$787,800$760 cheaper homes ($173K less) · smaller
Edisto Island, SC 29438 77%853$86,979$642,400$452 cheaper homes ($318K less) · smaller · less walkable
Tybee Island, GA 31328 77%902$109,631$619,800$427 cheaper homes ($341K less) · smaller
Moultonborough, NH 03254 75%152$106,440$641,300$374 cheaper homes ($319K less) · younger residents
Woodstock, NY 12498 75%213$94,210$627,700$470 cheaper homes ($333K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Eastsound, WA 98245 75%2,566$95,811$772,600$590 cheaper homes ($188K less) · smaller · younger residents
Jamestown, RI 02835 74%74$140,625$842,400$616 higher income ($38K more) · cheaper homes ($118K less) · younger residents
Harpswell, ME 04079 74%138$91,969$612,400$500 cheaper homes ($348K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
East Quogue, NY 11942 74%150$93,710$844,100$675 cheaper homes ($117K less) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Estes Park, CO 80517 74%1,840$95,404$701,700$415 cheaper homes ($259K less) · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 74%2,564$107,364$807,200$380 cheaper homes ($153K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Sisters, OR 97759 74%2,565$102,734$777,700$425 cheaper homes ($183K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Stonington, CT 06378 73%104$135,714$593,400$407 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($367K less) · younger residents
Nags Head, NC 27959 73%507$91,264$490,800$424 cheaper homes ($470K less) · smaller · younger residents
Emerald Isle, NC 28594 72%622$89,773$603,700$474 cheaper homes ($357K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Osprey, FL 34229 72%1,232$103,657$692,700$306 cheaper homes ($268K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Freeland, WA 98249 72%2,558$99,519$627,400$404 cheaper homes ($333K less) · smaller · younger residents
Wolfeboro, NH 03894 71%140$94,349$548,600$347 cheaper homes ($412K less) · younger residents

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.