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 Unity, ME 04988

Unity: median income $62,929, home value $203,600, $251/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ferron, UT 84523 92%2,162$71,212$229,500$204 pricier homes ($26K more)
Pantego, NC 27860 90%732$62,083$145,300— cheaper homes ($58K less)
Poth, TX 78147 89%1,903$72,404$225,000$187 Very close on everything we compare
Teachey, NC 28464 88%820$60,130$173,800$195 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Goodwell, OK 73939 88%1,770$72,813$163,900— cheaper homes ($40K less)
Clark, MO 65243 87%1,234$68,021$208,200$191 larger
Coolidge, TX 76635 87%1,717$62,031$153,300— cheaper homes ($50K less)
Holmesville, OH 44633 86%696$64,688$215,200— Very close on everything we compare
Pellston, MI 49769 86%758$67,558$160,000$230 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older residents
Humboldt, AZ 86329 86%2,360$58,875$286,300$187 pricier homes ($83K more)
Mesa, WA 99343 86%2,372$59,451$253,000— pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Sturgis, MS 39769 85%1,308$69,079$156,300— cheaper homes ($47K less) · 7 min longer commute
Rosepine, LA 70659 85%1,603$65,640$204,400— older residents
Ohkay Owingeh, NM 87566 85%2,004$61,029$238,500— pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents
Harrah, WA 98933 85%2,441$75,972$241,400— pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · older residents
Prospect, VA 23960 84%696$63,533$219,100$210 older residents · 7 min longer commute
Sylvania, AL 35988 84%1,114$53,684$158,500$195 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents
Steens, MS 39766 84%1,267$65,707$162,700— cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents
Howe, IN 46746 84%836$73,244$160,800$187 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Tieton, WA 98947 84%2,443$75,057$243,100$238 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Ararat, NC 27007 83%818$77,163$216,200$202 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Farwell, TX 79325 83%1,912$71,771$163,400— cheaper homes ($40K less)
Plummer, ID 83851 83%2,255$57,356$251,200$290 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents
Joseph City, AZ 86032 83%2,250$73,194$177,000— cheaper homes ($27K less)
Due West, SC 29639 82%992$53,050$220,600$177 younger 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.