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 Wolfeboro, NH 03894

Wolfeboro: median income $94,349, home value $548,600, $347/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
La Conner, WA 98257 95%2,440$94,425$506,200$300 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Eliot, ME 03903 94%38$101,522$498,900$363 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents
Saint Michaels, MD 21663 92%423$89,775$650,500$438 pricier homes ($102K more) · smaller
Nevada City, CA 95959 92%2,556$86,524$627,100$324 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
New Buffalo, MI 49117 91%798$75,114$488,000$351 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Seneca, SC 29672 90%875$90,650$482,100$271 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Red Lodge, MT 59068 90%1,866$80,962$438,700$366 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller
Harwich, MA 02645 89%143$104,401$648,200$483 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger
Mashpee, MA 02649 89%141$95,299$562,200$420 larger
Kennebunkport, ME 04046 89%39$102,529$586,100$434 pricier homes ($38K more) · younger residents
Nags Head, NC 27959 89%582$91,264$490,800$424 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Harbor Springs, MI 49740 89%692$89,250$363,500$312 cheaper homes ($185K less)
South Dennis, MA 02660 88%140$93,386$559,600$549 Very close on everything we compare
Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 88%139$110,450$607,900$424 pricier homes ($59K more) · more homeowners
Afton, VA 22920 88%558$88,028$410,000$311 cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller
Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 88%1,737$91,452$483,200$281 cheaper homes ($65K less) · newer homes
Palisade, CO 81526 88%1,937$87,500$501,800$337 cheaper homes ($47K less) · younger residents
Murphys, CA 95247 88%2,563$76,333$537,400$306 smaller
Leavenworth, WA 98826 88%2,367$87,646$720,000$411 pricier homes ($171K more) · 5 min longer commute
Custer, SD 57730 87%1,602$83,469$378,800$279 cheaper homes ($170K less)
Bigfork, MT 59911 87%2,060$83,019$666,400$456 pricier homes ($118K more) · newer homes
Corrales, NM 87048 87%1,961$102,004$574,000$319 pricier homes ($25K more) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Jacksonville, OR 97530 87%2,583$89,239$617,400$313 pricier homes ($69K more) · younger residents
Freeland, WA 98249 87%2,447$99,519$627,400$404 pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
South Yarmouth, MA 02664 86%142$82,125$551,400$474 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.