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 Sanbornville, NH 03872

Sanbornville: median income $109,583, home value $334,400, $278/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Haddam, CT 06423 93%160$107,549$373,700$306 pricier homes ($39K more)
Columbia, NJ 07832 93%274$106,424$355,200$237 Very close on everything we compare
Earleville, MD 21919 93%382$106,500$373,200$224 pricier homes ($39K more)
Hubbardston, MA 01452 92%89$123,500$371,600$311 pricier homes ($37K more)
Chepachet, RI 02814 92%118$110,764$390,500$298 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Barto, PA 19504 92%320$98,859$388,300$225 pricier homes ($54K more)
Lanexa, VA 23089 92%524$108,802$400,600$252 pricier homes ($66K more)
Metamora, MI 48455 92%618$103,835$367,900$235 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Center City, MN 55012 92%1,077$101,607$386,600$226 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller
South Haven, MN 55382 92%1,147$93,661$368,100$283 pricier homes ($34K more)
Canterbury, CT 06331 91%138$103,198$334,200$243 5 min shorter commute
Sharpsburg, MD 21782 90%449$94,130$311,600$207 Very close on everything we compare
Helenville, WI 53137 90%887$116,550$366,200$251 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Harris, MN 55032 90%1,089$104,554$380,900$271 pricier homes ($47K more) · younger residents
Glenville, PA 17329 89%398$121,309$331,000$203 Very close on everything we compare
Shady Side, MD 20764 89%433$118,857$432,700$298 pricier homes ($98K more) · more renters
White Hall, MD 21161 89%393$108,094$472,600$287 pricier homes ($138K more)
Allenton, MI 48002 89%600$93,948$313,100$214 Very close on everything we compare
Holland, MA 01521 88%119$91,979$333,600$359 smaller
Shapleigh, ME 04076 88%10$88,140$356,000$365 Very close on everything we compare
Thompson, CT 06277 88%116$110,000$295,100$271 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Blairstown, NJ 07825 88%269$123,785$423,400$258 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Fawn Grove, PA 17321 88%384$114,205$291,200$230 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Dryden, MI 48428 88%611$100,033$311,600$204 younger residents
Saint Charles, IA 50240 88%1,170$107,563$305,800$288 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · 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.