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 Rochester, NH 03868

Rochester: median income $81,530, home value $268,800, $265/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Penrose, CO 81240 90%1,799$90,417$341,400$244 pricier homes ($73K more)
Lisbon, ME 04250 89%64$84,028$257,700$200 5 min longer commute
Lomira, WI 53048 89%877$74,464$239,700$232 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · more renters
Ingram, TX 78025 89%1,804$70,964$248,200$202 Very close on everything we compare
Wrightstown, NJ 08562 88%292$103,493$301,800$282 pricier homes ($33K more)
Evington, VA 24550 88%605$69,025$221,800$219 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Louisville, TN 37777 88%865$75,648$345,600$244 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger
Glen Rose, TX 76043 88%1,643$78,306$250,500$200 Very close on everything we compare
Marietta, PA 17547 87%367$92,199$270,600$196 larger
Red Hill, PA 18076 87%310$79,615$253,200$199 smaller
Honey Brook, PA 19344 87%339$86,890$321,100$211 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
West Union, SC 29696 87%877$78,468$219,100$241 cheaper homes ($50K less) · more single-family homes
Bath, MI 48808 87%682$78,370$258,200$208 more single-family homes
Lake Ozark, MO 65049 87%1,187$86,453$362,800$239 pricier homes ($94K more) · older residents
Battle Mountain, NV 89820 87%2,341$89,014$222,100$218 cheaper homes ($47K less) · younger residents
Alburtis, PA 18011 86%308$104,449$296,300$206 pricier homes ($28K more)
Haw River, NC 27258 86%670$78,079$225,400$189 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Belle Fourche, SD 57717 86%1,627$77,689$249,200$180 Very close on everything we compare
Tyler, TX 75709 86%1,528$75,625$240,600$176 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Mechanicville, NY 12118 85%143$92,710$345,800$267 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger
Saxonburg, PA 16056 85%490$75,893$302,000$239 pricier homes ($33K more) · more single-family homes
Falling Waters, WV 25419 85%442$89,284$281,600$180 larger · newer homes
Saukville, WI 53080 85%853$80,360$313,500$234 pricier homes ($45K more) · more renters
Douglas, WY 82633 85%1,727$82,412$296,700$168 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Camp Verde, AZ 86322 85%2,256$69,411$323,500$272 pricier homes ($55K more) · 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.