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 Kingston, RI 02881

Kingston: median income $56,472, home value $575,000, $369/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Collins, CO 80521 76%1,740$58,082$564,900$378 larger
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 75%629$64,231$491,200$393 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Eugene, OR 97403 75%2,577$45,417$592,200$330 larger
Madison, WI 53726 74%920$47,754$647,300$341 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Amherst, MA 01002 73%78$70,818$481,100$314 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · older residents
Charlottesville, VA 22903 65%440$69,340$526,200$304 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · older residents
Boulder, CO 80302 64%1,759$61,698$1,190,800$604 pricier homes ($616K more) · larger · older residents
Corvallis, OR 97333 64%2,579$65,191$511,100$351 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · older residents
State College, PA 16801 63%332$61,836$414,600$228 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger · older residents
Davis, CA 95616 63%2,627$74,359$895,600$470 pricier homes ($321K more) · larger
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 62%558$92,875$663,900$299 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Clemson, SC 29631 62%772$48,800$400,400$214 cheaper homes ($175K less) · larger · less walkable
Boulder, CO 80303 62%1,757$78,555$961,900$467 pricier homes ($387K more) · larger · older residents
Nashville, TN 37212 58%900$95,145$963,800$422 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($389K more) · larger
State College, PA 16803 56%334$73,532$413,700$195 cheaper homes ($161K less) · larger · older residents
Blacksburg, VA 24060 56%558$67,675$447,600$237 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger · older residents
Columbus, OH 43212 56%611$77,257$533,700$336 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · older residents
Missoula, MT 59801 56%2,112$58,347$442,400$345 cheaper homes ($133K less) · larger · older residents
Provo, UT 84604 56%2,079$75,571$582,000$250 larger
Charleston, SC 29403 55%757$66,944$674,000$586 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger · older residents
Carrboro, NC 27510 54%560$61,837$449,700$282 cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger · older residents
Madison, WI 53705 54%921$88,549$475,400$340 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger
Austin, TX 78751 54%1,648$80,915$852,000$470 pricier homes ($277K more) · larger · older residents
Gunnison, CO 81230 54%1,871$77,942$533,200$389 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Flagstaff, AZ 86001 54%2,198$64,626$589,100$399 larger · less walkable · newer homes

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.