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 Fairfield, VA 24435

Fairfield: median income $70,114, home value $203,700, $218/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pittsford, VT 05763 96%520$71,833$218,600$186 larger
Falls, PA 18615 94%308$76,184$229,100$253 pricier homes ($25K more)
Friendship, ME 04547 92%669$75,625$275,000$242 pricier homes ($71K more)
Shaftsbury, VT 05262 92%475$71,417$253,600$208 pricier homes ($50K more)
Pulaski, PA 16143 92%231$85,375$174,800$245 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Newfane, VT 05345 91%495$67,472$277,700$231 pricier homes ($74K more)
Bear Lake, MI 49614 91%576$72,250$223,100$201 larger
Whitefield, ME 04353 90%668$73,875$242,300$247 pricier homes ($39K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Callicoon, NY 12723 90%350$77,313$235,900$275 pricier homes ($32K more)
Livingston Manor, NY 12758 90%364$68,958$169,900$225 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Andes, NY 13731 90%380$73,750$291,300$214 pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller
Burdett, NY 14818 90%341$69,107$231,900$165 pricier homes ($28K more)
Dauphin, PA 17018 90%215$72,188$238,700$170 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Central Lake, MI 49622 90%585$70,098$234,400$278 pricier homes ($31K more)
Ceresco, NE 68017 90%949$69,375$230,000$186 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents
Lisbon, NH 03585 89%583$68,594$233,700$250 pricier homes ($30K more) · more renters
Bath, NH 03740 89%578$67,813$234,400$253 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Livermore, ME 04253 89%653$70,441$221,800$242 Very close on everything we compare
Derby Line, VT 05830 89%617$70,446$207,000$175 Very close on everything we compare
Pennellville, NY 13132 89%405$72,473$197,200$208 larger
Leicester, NY 14481 89%346$79,135$163,000$152 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Crescent, PA 15046 89%192$81,992$195,600$178 Very close on everything we compare
Hop Bottom, PA 18824 89%323$72,250$173,600$176 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Wellston, MI 49689 89%558$64,070$155,200$202 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Mason, WI 54856 89%845$76,500$193,800$221 Very close on everything we compare

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.