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 Mount Solon, VA 22843

Mount Solon: median income $89,141, home value $267,700, $350/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lawtons, NY 14091 91%291$82,833$236,200— cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Burbank, OH 44214 90%238$84,861$237,800$316 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Aspers, PA 17304 89%152$84,885$248,000$216 Very close on everything we compare
Meshoppen, PA 18630 88%281$89,464$232,700$250 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Julian, NC 27283 88%167$90,402$290,700$251 older residents
Mc Connells, SC 29726 88%267$88,750$308,300$228 pricier homes ($41K more)
Prosperity, PA 15329 87%132$92,917$237,500— cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · older residents
Grawn, MI 49637 87%554$75,000$237,100$275 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Arpin, WI 54410 87%709$84,135$213,200— cheaper homes ($55K less)
Greene, ME 04236 86%616$98,093$270,000$257 larger · more walkable
Franklin, VT 05457 86%558$96,875$279,200$297 smaller · more walkable
Zanesfield, OH 43360 86%279$105,795$232,100$240 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Gowen, MI 49326 86%469$84,000$226,100$290 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Shiocton, WI 54170 86%648$78,889$232,100$259 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 5 min longer commute
Atwater, MN 56209 86%933$86,118$230,800$277 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older homes
Brandon, MN 56315 86%993$89,514$269,800$246 more walkable
Buskirk, NY 12028 85%436$96,891$247,700— smaller · 5 min longer commute
Bainbridge, PA 17502 85%179$72,776$233,000$235 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Holtwood, PA 17532 85%184$84,562$348,600$312 pricier homes ($81K more) · 7 min longer commute
Cordova, MD 21625 85%171$83,250$372,200$374 pricier homes ($105K more) · smaller · older residents
Cedar Hill, TN 37032 85%450$88,157$287,200$256 larger · 6 min longer commute
Saginaw, MN 55779 85%895$93,792$282,900$263 5 min longer commute
Silex, MO 63377 85%645$88,424$233,600$275 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 7 min longer commute
Poland, ME 04274 84%600$85,557$283,600$275 larger · older residents
Willards, MD 21874 84%203$78,393$236,700$306 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · 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.