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 Conway, NH 03818

Conway: median income $77,134, home value $324,800, $241/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seward, AK 99664 91%3,285$87,760$384,600$271 pricier homes ($60K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Bath, MI 48808 90%672$78,370$258,200$208 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
North Bennington, VT 05257 88%127$94,375$307,500$258 Very close on everything we compare
Dillon, MT 59725 88%2,020$61,335$311,400$201 larger
Dryden, NY 13053 87%278$83,021$244,000$202 cheaper homes ($81K less) · 6 min longer commute
Saukville, WI 53080 87%839$80,360$313,500$234 Very close on everything we compare
Freeville, NY 13068 86%281$80,043$204,200$189 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Petoskey, MI 49770 86%682$79,590$355,200$275 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Lake Placid, NY 12946 85%142$77,548$467,000$363 pricier homes ($142K more)
North Chili, NY 14514 85%338$86,493$242,500$218 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Tiger, GA 30576 85%909$81,417$324,900$245 Very close on everything we compare
Canton, OH 44718 85%567$88,113$297,900$191 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Lander, WY 82520 85%1,863$76,959$337,700$236 larger
Lansing, NY 14882 84%288$91,960$318,700$214 7 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35210 84%1,100$73,061$255,800$191 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Pella, IA 50219 84%1,116$86,807$301,400$239 larger · younger residents
Spirit Lake, IA 51360 84%1,193$75,882$271,700$253 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · older residents
Twisp, WA 98856 84%2,323$70,089$484,600$320 pricier homes ($160K more)
White River Junction, VT 05001 83%65$78,092$296,900$271 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Lexington, VA 24450 83%609$76,587$305,100$225 larger
Lake Orion, MI 48359 83%615$93,125$350,100$186 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Port Washington, WI 53074 83%835$79,423$296,600$233 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Lake Mills, WI 53551 83%890$94,401$357,400$229 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Baxter, MN 56425 83%1,135$70,740$324,600$176 larger · newer homes
Perham, MN 56573 83%1,196$68,770$286,500$183 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · younger 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.