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 Lawrence, PA 15055

Lawrence: median income $71,719, home value $232,100, $157/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Woodstock, NH 03262 59%503$85,667$319,800$273 pricier homes ($88K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Lincoln, NH 03251 55%504$70,625$342,000$364 pricier homes ($110K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Clearwater, FL 33762 52%870$87,461$344,700$222 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger · more renters
Bethany, LA 71007 49%946$66,477$250,000$152 younger residents · more single-family homes
Lannon, WI 53046 47%459$83,889$260,000$246 pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Kansas City, MO 64146 47%775$66,481$206,700$171 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more single-family homes · more walkable
Ellicottville, NY 14731 46%157$67,583$286,800$287 pricier homes ($55K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Dowell, MD 20629 46%239$87,389$403,100$166 pricier homes ($171K more) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 44%458$85,247$427,400$281 pricier homes ($195K more) · larger · older residents
San Mateo, FL 32187 44%745$51,982$170,800$195 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Christmas, FL 32709 44%814$73,224$299,300$243 pricier homes ($67K more) · 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Lake Ozark, MO 65049 44%686$86,453$362,800$239 pricier homes ($131K more) · larger · more renters
Plattsburgh, NY 12903 43%455$77,733$210,400$158 more renters · more walkable · older homes
Kingfield, ME 04947 42%599$70,104$251,900$352 older residents · more single-family homes
Pompano Beach, FL 33066 42%971$57,051$225,800$180 larger · older residents · 11 min longer commute
Riverside, AL 35135 40%571$68,681$250,600$199 younger residents · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Colstrip, MT 59323 40%1,385$82,500$194,900$134 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents · 10 min shorter commute
Lanesborough, MA 01237 39%388$90,898$303,700$274 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · more single-family homes
South Padre Island, TX 78597 39%1,380$68,421$527,200$373 pricier homes ($295K more) · larger · older residents
Chicopee, MA 01022 38%414$51,373$193,600$256 cheaper homes ($39K less) · more walkable · older homes
Warren, VT 05674 38%455$86,905$569,300$359 pricier homes ($337K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Mooers, NY 12958 38%462$63,977$177,000$155 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more single-family homes
Ochlocknee, GA 31773 38%681$80,125$196,300$143 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · younger residents
Naples, FL 34112 38%985$69,842$336,600$248 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger · older residents
Shelby, AL 35143 38%613$72,500$220,000$214 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute

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.