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.

Reset

Towns most like Norway, ME 04268

Norway: median income $54,342, home value $215,800, $239/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Romney, WV 26757 92%539$57,212$213,200$173 Very close on everything we compare
Waverly, TN 37185 92%1,066$51,314$181,800$192 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Luray, VA 22835 91%561$52,939$265,700$225 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Unicoi, TN 37692 91%830$53,531$232,600$200 Very close on everything we compare
Keysville, VA 23947 90%646$51,800$176,500$164 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Belhaven, NC 27810 89%686$51,277$173,900$187 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · older residents
Tappahannock, VA 22560 88%546$61,082$246,600$195 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents
Willis, VA 24380 88%726$57,778$224,400$264 smaller
Mount Gilead, NC 27306 88%797$57,934$171,800$226 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Crawford, GA 30630 88%980$57,813$219,400$165 smaller · newer homes
White Pine, TN 37890 88%875$59,355$234,200$197 6 min shorter commute
Malakoff, TX 75148 88%1,603$68,569$203,000$237 newer homes
Morongo Valley, CA 92256 88%2,528$51,949$285,400$293 pricier homes ($70K more) · younger residents
Georgetown, OH 45121 87%781$60,188$164,600$185 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · younger residents
Oconto Falls, WI 54154 87%866$59,767$200,900$172 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Afton, OK 74331 87%1,379$61,272$204,500$218 older residents · newer homes
Lucerne Valley, CA 92356 87%2,532$54,923$269,900$196 pricier homes ($54K more) · younger residents
Myrtle Point, OR 97458 87%2,631$51,760$276,200$226 pricier homes ($60K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Orange, MA 01364 86%141$55,532$247,800$207 pricier homes ($32K more) · younger residents
Newfoundland, PA 18445 86%315$53,429$247,700$209 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · newer homes
Hancock, MD 21750 86%500$60,625$232,500$166 smaller
Coats, NC 27521 86%744$61,590$227,400$199 younger residents
Lawndale, NC 28090 86%839$57,714$169,700$183 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Moravian Falls, NC 28654 86%793$57,438$228,700$182 smaller · more homeowners
Lincolnton, GA 30817 86%961$57,089$173,200$190 cheaper homes ($43K less)

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.