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 Union, NH 03887

Union: median income $91,875, home value $292,800, $251/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Suffolk, VA 23438 94%561$93,750$292,600$223 Very close on everything we compare
Royalston, MA 01368 92%80$102,500$347,300$206 pricier homes ($55K more)
Parker, KS 66072 92%1,294$101,875$296,800$235 newer homes
Cortland, NE 68331 92%1,328$96,250$313,900$196 smaller
Johnsonville, NY 12094 91%130$92,266$260,900$215 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Thornton, WV 26440 91%540$92,824$216,800— cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Harris, MN 55032 91%1,089$104,554$380,900$271 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger
Wales, MA 01081 90%114$86,979$296,800$324 5 min shorter commute
Cartersville, VA 23027 90%548$95,407$243,200$224 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Pleasant Plain, OH 45162 90%734$84,722$216,500$225 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Dryden, MI 48428 90%609$100,033$311,600$204 larger
Saint Elizabeth, MO 65075 90%1,161$87,431$283,100— smaller · younger residents
Mc Louth, KS 66054 90%1,283$98,214$243,500$185 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Sebago, ME 04029 89%34$77,813$300,000$343 Very close on everything we compare
Steep Falls, ME 04085 89%29$92,246$288,600$253 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Boston, VA 22713 89%503$90,795$377,200$249 pricier homes ($84K more) · 5 min longer commute
Emmett, MI 48022 89%591$96,809$239,800$238 cheaper homes ($53K less)
South Haven, MN 55382 89%1,146$93,661$368,100$283 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Kingsville, MO 64061 89%1,234$85,987$283,000$229 larger · newer homes
Huntsburg, OH 44046 88%527$80,625$222,200$185 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Guilford, IN 47022 88%778$93,633$282,900$226 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Stanchfield, MN 55080 88%1,098$101,964$355,900$235 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Taylors Falls, MN 55084 88%1,074$94,297$318,500$276 pricier homes ($26K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Granger, TX 76530 88%1,689$106,250$288,300$190 Very close on everything we compare
McCammon, ID 83250 88%2,055$73,555$322,000$217 pricier homes ($29K more) · 5 min shorter commute

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.