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 Montpelier, VA 23192

Montpelier: median income $110,642, home value $428,700, $233/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lagrangeville, NY 12540 95%338$111,320$483,100$251 pricier homes ($54K more)
New Ipswich, NH 03071 94%458$110,507$392,400$278 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Burns, TN 37029 94%545$97,222$419,400$239 Very close on everything we compare
Foster, RI 02825 93%419$112,593$445,600$272 Very close on everything we compare
Clear Lake, MN 55319 93%990$111,607$383,200$216 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Cochranville, PA 19330 92%171$109,779$387,100$223 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Kingston Springs, TN 37082 92%533$98,361$418,800$256 Very close on everything we compare
Davisburg, MI 48350 92%459$110,042$371,900$168 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Scandia, MN 55073 92%935$128,723$462,400$249 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Spring Grove, IL 60081 92%641$116,706$355,300$213 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Bennett, CO 80102 92%1,441$113,125$542,600$229 pricier homes ($114K more)
Brimfield, MA 01010 91%416$111,250$389,100$247 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Westtown, NY 10998 91%294$129,348$462,000$282 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Cottontown, TN 37048 91%499$100,446$434,400$251 Very close on everything we compare
Eagleville, TN 37060 91%515$97,386$490,800$271 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller
Cedar, MN 55011 91%954$121,434$405,300$208 larger
Townsend, MA 01469 90%460$103,801$425,800$268 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Leonard, MD 20685 90%78$119,135$450,400$212 Very close on everything we compare
Knoxville, MD 21758 90%106$111,528$424,600$189 smaller
Moreland, GA 30259 90%506$104,375$367,600$198 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · newer homes
Pegram, TN 37143 90%529$96,929$392,400$234 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Pleasant View, TN 37146 90%524$110,938$373,500$209 cheaper homes ($55K less) · newer homes
Rockvale, TN 37153 90%510$99,143$448,700$222 newer homes
Lusby, MD 20657 89%78$115,748$333,500$218 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger
White, GA 30184 89%463$110,694$331,800$216 cheaper homes ($97K 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.