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 Farmington, NH 03835

Farmington: median income $66,982, home value $289,800, $242/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Maries, ID 83861 94%2,195$65,508$307,800$237 Very close on everything we compare
Rainier, OR 97048 93%2,509$77,171$368,600$235 pricier homes ($79K more)
Goldendale, WA 98620 93%2,413$60,500$280,500$233 Very close on everything we compare
East Palatka, FL 32131 92%1,112$69,416$233,100$182 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Yerington, NV 89447 92%2,484$56,691$277,500$233 Very close on everything we compare
White Pine, TN 37890 91%822$59,355$234,200$197 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Bucksport, ME 04416 90%141$64,587$250,900$195 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Timberville, VA 22853 90%518$67,083$245,800$248 cheaper homes ($44K less) · younger residents
Monticello, FL 32344 90%1,134$61,199$247,400$183 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Umatilla, FL 32784 90%1,159$72,201$272,800$192 Very close on everything we compare
Mora, MN 55051 90%1,103$68,500$224,700$214 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Ingram, TX 78025 90%1,800$70,964$248,200$202 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Waldoboro, ME 04572 89%98$69,107$274,900$192 Very close on everything we compare
Plainfield, CT 06374 89%126$71,882$248,700$194 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents
Oak Hill, FL 32759 89%1,140$61,671$289,300$229 smaller · newer homes
Elberta, AL 36530 89%1,276$63,393$280,100$208 newer homes
Saint Croix Falls, WI 54024 89%1,070$75,417$271,900$221 Very close on everything we compare
Malakoff, TX 75148 89%1,558$68,569$203,000$237 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Coquille, OR 97423 89%2,626$61,020$296,100$208 6 min shorter commute
Palmer, MA 01069 88%105$80,190$274,000$263 Very close on everything we compare
Grottoes, VA 24441 88%539$82,083$263,400$231 cheaper homes ($26K less) · newer homes
Mount Gilead, OH 43338 88%634$72,311$242,400$205 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Pine City, MN 55063 88%1,084$74,667$253,200$205 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Overton, NV 89040 88%2,319$78,357$277,300$214 smaller
Montague, CA 96064 88%2,577$61,157$262,400$186 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 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.