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 Cobbs Creek, VA 23035

Cobbs Creek: median income $68,438, home value $441,000, $198/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cushing, MN 56443 93%1,111$71,310$341,200$201 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Lakehead, CA 96051 93%2,447$69,688$360,000$170 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Easton, KS 66020 90%1,019$78,594$320,100— cheaper homes ($121K less)
Warwick, MD 21912 89%137$69,868$391,700$259 cheaper homes ($49K less) · newer homes
Warriors Mark, PA 16877 88%242$68,500$307,700— cheaper homes ($133K less)
Austin, CO 81410 88%1,710$67,826$366,700$213 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Apple River, IL 61001 87%803$77,841$300,300$182 cheaper homes ($141K less) · newer homes
Cuddebackville, NY 12729 86%291$66,982$330,100$175 cheaper homes ($111K less) · 6 min longer commute
Roach, MO 65787 86%902$62,917$314,500$254 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Cascade Locks, OR 97014 86%2,384$75,000$387,700$246 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Andes, NY 13731 85%333$73,750$291,300$214 cheaper homes ($150K less)
Battle Lake, MN 56515 85%1,161$73,750$398,500$251 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · older residents
Dent, MN 56528 85%1,170$79,500$319,300$248 cheaper homes ($122K less) · newer homes
Cascade, MT 59421 85%1,906$78,125$377,900$267 cheaper homes ($63K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Tamworth, NH 03886 84%515$74,450$368,200$274 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older residents
Penobscot, ME 04476 84%626$63,194$296,400$280 cheaper homes ($145K less)
Gregory, MI 48137 84%534$78,973$306,800$228 cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger
Hilbert, WI 54129 84%768$67,381$279,700$208 cheaper homes ($161K less) · larger
Darwin, MN 55324 84%1,070$83,269$355,100$196 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Underwood, MN 56586 84%1,167$79,583$309,800$268 cheaper homes ($131K less)
Bonnots Mill, MO 65016 84%848$78,750$269,400— cheaper homes ($172K less)
Tuolumne, CA 95379 84%2,374$74,230$416,000$266 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · younger residents
Westwood, CA 96137 84%2,383$65,896$414,900$322 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Alstead, NH 03602 83%444$70,455$279,400$216 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Danby, VT 05739 83%442$75,000$296,500$206 cheaper homes ($145K less)

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.