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 Jefferson, NH 03583

Jefferson: median income $67,188, home value $296,700, $196/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Warriors Mark, PA 16877 95%421$68,500$307,700— larger
Cushing, MN 56443 92%1,129$71,310$341,200$201 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Gouldsboro, ME 04607 91%166$60,152$253,400$270 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Alburgh, VT 05440 90%75$76,429$268,300$199 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Swan Lake, NY 12783 90%251$67,778$248,200$251 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more renters
Lakehead, CA 96051 90%2,559$69,688$360,000$170 pricier homes ($63K more) · older homes
Danby, VT 05739 89%106$75,000$296,500$206 older homes
Cuddebackville, NY 12729 89%257$66,982$330,100$175 pricier homes ($33K more) · older homes
Warwick, MD 21912 89%410$69,868$391,700$259 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger
Iron River, WI 54847 89%976$68,795$266,600$236 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Trego, WI 54888 89%997$63,971$240,500$249 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Apple River, IL 61001 89%944$77,841$300,300$182 6 min shorter commute
Waterford, ME 04088 88%39$63,750$276,800$329 Very close on everything we compare
Dresden, ME 04342 88%87$74,844$240,100$259 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Dent, MN 56528 88%1,182$79,500$319,300$248 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Danville, VT 05828 87%33$72,121$279,100$208 larger · older homes
James Creek, PA 16657 87%443$63,353$214,500$164 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents
Union Dale, PA 18470 87%278$73,654$227,600$164 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Free Soil, MI 49411 87%732$61,857$239,400$235 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Harshaw, WI 54529 87%891$72,000$268,100$311 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Finlayson, MN 55735 87%1,048$63,827$271,200$284 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Osage, MN 56570 87%1,157$61,042$315,700$143 Very close on everything we compare
Kendrick, ID 83537 87%2,162$71,917$327,300$197 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents
Kents Hill, ME 04349 86%68$59,500$257,600$307 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Saint Albans, ME 04971 86%107$65,600$194,000$244 cheaper homes ($103K 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.