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 Plymouth, NH 03264

Plymouth: median income $76,892, home value $288,800, $226/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Millersville, PA 17551 89%354$68,661$287,900$190 larger
Laramie, WY 82070 87%1,730$69,095$338,500$216 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Geneseo, NY 14454 86%314$77,857$243,200$165 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14228 83%359$74,871$274,600$225 larger · older residents
Des Moines, IA 50321 83%1,124$80,351$320,500$212 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents
Lawrence, KS 66046 81%1,262$65,478$233,700$199 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · more renters
Orono, ME 04473 80%166$61,528$272,600$198 Very close on everything we compare
Wilmore, KY 40390 80%790$73,767$245,900$186 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Lincoln, NE 68528 80%1,292$75,740$253,800$166 cheaper homes ($35K less) · newer homes
Kutztown, PA 19530 79%306$71,554$292,500$184 larger
Ames, IA 50010 79%1,112$65,398$253,500$190 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Iowa City, IA 52245 79%1,014$78,020$315,100$184 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older residents
Mission, KS 66202 79%1,230$75,129$284,900$229 larger · older residents · more walkable
Overland Park, KS 66214 79%1,235$83,435$340,900$194 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · older residents
Knoxville, TN 37909 78%847$66,984$312,500$223 larger · older residents
Brookings, SD 57006 78%1,243$66,337$273,900$155 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Storrs Mansfield, CT 06268 77%138$55,219$348,600$220 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · more renters
Hamden, CT 06518 77%174$106,692$325,300$212 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Hershey, PA 17033 77%351$72,945$384,100$198 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · older residents
Whitewater, WI 53190 77%859$66,069$265,100$222 larger
Altoona, WI 54720 77%977$85,977$236,700$177 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older residents
Knoxville, TN 37923 76%849$73,699$333,000$213 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · older residents
Winona Lake, IN 46590 76%741$82,188$274,500$152 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Lawrence, KS 66047 76%1,263$65,392$342,300$173 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · older residents
White River Junction, VT 05001 75%35$78,092$296,900$271 older 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.