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 Maidens, VA 23102

Maidens: median income $126,635, home value $510,200, $272/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arcadia, OK 73007 94%1,087$120,556$494,200$230 Very close on everything we compare
Dunbarton, NH 03046 92%495$124,348$484,100$272 cheaper homes ($26K less)
East Kingston, NH 03827 92%508$142,794$600,500$273 pricier homes ($90K more)
Awendaw, SC 29429 92%341$112,244$537,600$343 pricier homes ($27K more)
Cumming, IA 50061 91%885$130,714$533,800$197 smaller
Manchaca, TX 78652 91%1,258$133,368$528,100$204 Very close on everything we compare
Jefferson, MD 21755 90%115$137,417$529,600$241 larger
Bishop, GA 30621 90%416$117,917$463,600$208 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Loretto, MN 55357 90%964$152,500$530,200$245 higher income ($26K more)
Clancy, MT 59634 90%1,836$129,891$553,900$264 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Lone Jack, MO 64070 90%888$130,364$370,400$207 cheaper homes ($140K less)
Eads, TN 38028 89%681$151,389$463,600$210 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Fisherville, KY 40023 89%415$144,635$497,800$184 larger
Houlton, WI 54082 89%923$131,146$476,200$264 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Dayton, MN 55327 89%958$140,366$492,400$214 larger
Hubertus, WI 53033 88%666$136,786$476,900$280 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · older residents
Eagle, WI 53119 88%664$117,759$416,500$292 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · older homes
Sherwood, WI 54169 88%704$109,524$351,200$208 cheaper homes ($159K less)
Mantorville, MN 55955 88%893$132,524$405,700$240 cheaper homes ($105K less) · older homes
Roca, NE 68430 88%1,026$145,729$468,900$233 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Mendon, MA 01756 87%450$132,256$616,000$314 pricier homes ($106K more) · larger · older homes
West Greenwich, RI 02817 87%426$135,625$535,400$274 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
West Kingston, RI 02892 87%422$135,809$490,600$269 larger · older homes
Chester, NH 03036 87%502$142,212$552,300$298 pricier homes ($42K more) · 7 min longer commute
Newton, NH 03858 87%505$138,487$459,500$290 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 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.