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 Andover, NH 03216

Andover: median income $88,311, home value $358,800, $194/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sharpsburg, MD 21782 95%414$94,130$311,600$207 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Cortland, NE 68331 95%1,292$96,250$313,900$196 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Deary, ID 83823 95%2,164$78,345$409,300$225 pricier homes ($51K more)
Blanchardville, WI 53516 94%911$85,324$306,600$157 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Beldenville, WI 54003 94%1,026$94,352$343,900$175 smaller
Cleveland, MO 64734 94%1,227$88,274$393,900$233 pricier homes ($35K more)
Steep Falls, ME 04085 93%62$92,246$288,600$253 cheaper homes ($70K less)
La Valle, WI 53941 93%918$82,537$261,100$187 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Center City, MN 55012 93%1,043$101,607$386,600$226 pricier homes ($28K more)
Troy, ID 83871 93%2,176$89,750$361,800$179 Very close on everything we compare
Royalston, MA 01368 92%56$102,500$347,300$206 Very close on everything we compare
Glen Spey, NY 12737 92%204$87,939$289,700$208 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Cresco, PA 18326 92%238$85,352$285,300$215 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger
Freeland, MD 21053 92%363$89,497$408,300$238 pricier homes ($50K more)
Earleville, MD 21919 92%350$106,500$373,200$224 larger
Centerburg, OH 43011 92%601$90,121$315,600$205 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Star Prairie, WI 54026 92%1,031$95,833$342,200$277 Very close on everything we compare
Stanchfield, MN 55080 92%1,065$101,964$355,900$235 larger · younger residents
South Haven, MN 55382 92%1,112$93,661$368,100$283 larger
McCammon, ID 83250 92%2,021$73,555$322,000$217 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Pleasant Mount, PA 18453 91%218$85,110$325,000$260 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Darlington, MD 21034 91%348$78,047$401,500$218 pricier homes ($43K more)
North Salem, IN 46165 91%804$86,488$346,500$226 6 min shorter commute
Allenton, MI 48002 91%562$93,948$313,100$214 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Memphis, MI 48041 91%556$75,677$316,500$188 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 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.