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 Belmont, NH 03220

Belmont: median income $68,242, home value $316,200, $280/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Maries, ID 83861 95%2,173$65,508$307,800$237 Very close on everything we compare
West Wareham, MA 02576 92%121$63,021$387,200$345 pricier homes ($71K more) · smaller
Oak Hill, FL 32759 91%1,133$61,671$289,300$229 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Ignacio, CO 81137 91%1,939$63,860$335,300$372 Very close on everything we compare
Camp Verde, AZ 86322 91%2,229$69,411$323,500$272 larger
Clyde, NC 28721 90%816$62,279$281,800$232 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Ingram, TX 78025 90%1,781$70,964$248,200$202 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Orofino, ID 83544 90%2,168$69,458$292,700$198 Very close on everything we compare
Lakeside, AZ 85929 90%2,148$62,752$306,900$290 older residents
Bath, PA 18014 89%274$82,027$288,700$223 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Grottoes, VA 24441 89%525$82,083$263,400$231 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Camdenton, MO 65020 89%1,172$62,392$265,200$231 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Rainier, OR 97048 89%2,488$77,171$368,600$235 pricier homes ($52K more) · 6 min longer commute
Coquille, OR 97423 89%2,604$61,020$296,100$208 older homes
Veneta, OR 97487 89%2,545$65,625$414,700$296 pricier homes ($99K more)
Waldoboro, ME 04572 88%115$69,107$274,900$192 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Warren, ME 04864 88%121$74,616$232,700$251 cheaper homes ($84K less) · younger residents
Greenwood, DE 19950 88%385$75,305$292,900$202 Very close on everything we compare
Burgaw, NC 28425 88%705$66,478$217,100$232 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger
Fort Edward, NY 12828 87%106$76,019$226,900$183 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Elkton, VA 22827 87%510$70,519$252,500$194 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Pilot Mountain, NC 27041 87%681$78,700$232,000$204 cheaper homes ($84K less)
West Jefferson, NC 28694 87%720$58,486$273,200$266 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Spruce Pine, NC 28777 87%766$63,378$228,400$186 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Waynesville, NC 28785 87%820$61,769$310,300$252 Very close on everything we compare

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.