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 Belgrade, ME 04917

Belgrade: median income $88,338, home value $312,200, $238/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cedar, MI 49621 91%783$95,446$396,600$278 pricier homes ($84K more)
Grantham, NH 03753 90%131$106,285$343,900$251 pricier homes ($32K more)
Fairlee, VT 05045 90%122$79,203$291,700$218 smaller
Dalton, PA 18414 90%358$93,065$288,500$194 larger
Oley, PA 19547 90%413$89,948$357,900$213 pricier homes ($46K more) · more renters
Waverly, AL 36879 90%1,166$93,029$325,900$202 newer homes
Saratoga, WY 82331 89%1,860$95,610$363,800$206 pricier homes ($52K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Putney, VT 05346 88%165$79,118$320,800$202 larger
East Hardwick, VT 05836 88%120$99,929$241,800$238 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Etowah, NC 28729 88%923$84,413$321,000$244 Very close on everything we compare
Williamsburg, MI 49690 88%765$108,712$352,200$306 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Skandia, MI 49885 88%852$81,172$241,200$247 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
Deerwood, MN 56444 88%1,168$77,500$365,200$238 pricier homes ($53K more)
Thompson, ND 58278 88%1,317$111,250$313,400$209 smaller
Linn Creek, MO 65052 88%1,260$87,125$350,700$191 pricier homes ($39K more)
Thornton, NH 03285 87%97$90,022$351,900$254 pricier homes ($40K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Cornish, NH 03745 87%140$91,821$296,000$292 smaller · older residents
Winfield, PA 17889 87%433$89,063$288,900$188 Very close on everything we compare
Otto, NC 28763 87%967$72,269$287,800$240 Very close on everything we compare
Richland, MI 49083 87%794$105,496$348,100$170 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Schoolcraft, MI 49087 87%810$106,250$305,900$181 larger
Lake Ann, MI 49650 87%786$87,500$275,400$265 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents
Christoval, TX 76935 87%1,890$76,250$328,800$243 smaller · newer homes
Campton, NH 03223 86%99$118,534$356,400$266 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($44K more)
Arlington, VT 05250 86%190$96,250$300,700$267 younger residents · older homes

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.