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 Castine, ME 04421

Castine: median income $113,750, home value $603,500, $733/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Keuka Park, NY 14478 66%436$86,853$417,500$582 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($186K less) · 6 min longer commute
Angwin, CA 94508 56%2,756$116,667$775,600$784 pricier homes ($172K more) · larger · older residents
Minturn, CO 81645 48%1,943$102,039$1,089,600$847 pricier homes ($486K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Greenvale, NY 11548 45%350$122,250$816,800$592 pricier homes ($213K more) · larger · 17 min longer commute
Lakeville, CT 06039 43%289$104,859$754,500$433 pricier homes ($151K more) · older residents · more renters
Stirling, NJ 07980 42%388$162,955$689,200$446 higher income ($49K more) · pricier homes ($86K more) · larger
Sewanee, TN 37375 42%1,106$71,204$366,700$251 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($237K less) · larger
Stony Brook, NY 11790 41%327$171,133$624,000$422 higher income ($57K more) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Wenham, MA 01984 39%163$194,781$885,400$436 higher income ($81K more) · pricier homes ($282K more) · larger
West Barnstable, MA 02668 39%204$111,731$709,300$459 pricier homes ($106K more) · larger · older residents
Durham, NH 03824 39%139$124,056$504,300$335 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Norwich, VT 05055 38%180$142,684$632,400$331 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Hanover, NH 03755 37%180$165,884$814,600$458 higher income ($52K more) · pricier homes ($211K more) · larger
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750 37%1,095$107,917$449,300$242 cheaper homes ($154K less) · larger · older residents
Point Arena, CA 95468 37%2,801$115,955$489,900— cheaper homes ($114K less) · older residents
Sheridan, CA 95681 37%2,691$95,978$494,400$412 cheaper homes ($109K less) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Oakley, UT 84055 36%2,151$126,071$677,000$377 pricier homes ($74K more) · older residents · 11 min longer commute
Williamstown, MA 01267 35%250$106,375$429,800$306 cheaper homes ($174K less) · larger · older residents
West Long Branch, NJ 07764 35%390$114,271$684,300$510 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · older residents
Amlin, OH 43002 35%793$102,153$340,800— cheaper homes ($263K less) · older residents · 10 min longer commute
Leadville, CO 80461 35%1,946$95,775$458,400$402 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · older residents
Dorset, VT 05251 34%228$151,163$567,900$300 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents
Mount Tremper, NY 12457 34%320$90,667$435,700$379 cheaper homes ($168K less) · older residents · 11 min longer commute
Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730 34%2,055$98,305$1,014,200$801 pricier homes ($411K more) · larger · older residents
North Falmouth, MA 02556 33%213$121,810$717,800$491 pricier homes ($114K more) · larger · older 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.