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.

Reset

Towns most like Rockville, VA 23146

Rockville: median income $119,583, home value $464,400, $258/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dunbarton, NH 03046 95%490$124,348$484,100$272 Very close on everything we compare
Houlton, WI 54082 95%928$131,146$476,200$264 smaller
Canterbury, NH 03224 94%505$138,125$438,500$245 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Hubertus, WI 53033 94%671$136,786$476,900$280 larger
Sandia Park, NM 87047 94%1,594$116,630$413,400$262 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
East Kingston, NH 03827 93%502$142,794$600,500$273 pricier homes ($136K more)
Queenstown, MD 21658 93%122$128,274$483,200$300 Very close on everything we compare
Barkhamsted, CT 06063 92%385$121,705$373,100$231 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Asbury, NJ 08802 92%250$135,689$461,700$261 Very close on everything we compare
Eagle, WI 53119 92%669$117,759$416,500$292 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Milford, MI 48380 91%460$131,979$447,000$202 larger
Cumming, IA 50061 90%891$130,714$533,800$197 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Big Bend, WI 53103 90%658$137,083$397,700$259 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older homes
Roland, AR 72135 90%847$102,500$319,200$221 cheaper homes ($145K less)
Brimfield, MA 01010 89%421$111,250$389,100$247 cheaper homes ($75K less) · younger residents
West Kingston, RI 02892 89%415$135,809$490,600$269 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · younger residents
Deerfield, NH 03037 89%504$130,371$424,000$293 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents
Gilmanton Iron Works, NH 03837 89%518$119,712$409,600$286 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Newton, NH 03858 89%499$138,487$459,500$290 Very close on everything we compare
North Yarmouth, ME 04097 89%576$129,267$496,500$340 pricier homes ($32K more)
Cornwall Bridge, CT 06754 89%364$121,591$462,300$353 smaller · older homes
Staatsburg, NY 12580 89%349$134,583$403,800$287 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older homes
Yalaha, FL 34797 89%665$130,227$400,000$204 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Cedar, MI 49621 89%647$95,446$396,600$278 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Loretto, MN 55357 89%969$152,500$530,200$245 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($66K more)

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.