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 Highland, MI 48356

Highland: median income $103,872, home value $336,800, $193/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lebanon, CT 06249 93%585$109,135$345,900$216 Very close on everything we compare
Wolcott, CT 06716 91%548$111,225$325,300$236 larger
Columbia, NJ 07832 91%455$106,424$355,200$237 smaller
New Freedom, PA 17349 91%412$120,618$368,900$185 pricier homes ($32K more)
Barto, PA 19504 91%443$98,859$388,300$225 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · older residents
Foster, RI 02825 90%610$112,593$445,600$272 pricier homes ($109K more)
Winterport, ME 04496 90%747$98,333$283,000$197 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Auburn, PA 17922 90%411$99,260$257,100$163 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Cochranville, PA 19330 90%442$109,779$387,100$223 pricier homes ($50K more)
Earleville, MD 21919 90%457$106,500$373,200$224 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Winthrop, ME 04364 89%692$86,470$294,800$234 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Blairstown, NJ 07825 89%459$123,785$423,400$258 pricier homes ($87K more)
Jarrettsville, MD 21084 89%426$121,509$448,400$234 pricier homes ($112K more)
Boonsboro, MD 21713 89%375$96,199$369,200$207 pricier homes ($32K more)
New Glarus, WI 53574 89%307$106,508$335,700$205 smaller
Spring Grove, IL 60081 89%236$116,706$355,300$213 newer homes
Weare, NH 03281 88%602$118,271$396,300$242 pricier homes ($60K more)
Branchville, NJ 07826 88%466$116,598$392,200$289 pricier homes ($55K more)
Freeland, MD 21053 88%412$89,497$408,300$238 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller
Hampstead, MD 21074 88%408$108,536$378,100$217 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Manchester, MD 21102 88%405$135,069$392,800$211 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($56K more)
West Point, VA 23181 88%502$95,699$290,600$191 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Clear Lake, MN 55319 88%550$111,607$383,200$216 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · newer homes
Maple Park, IL 60151 88%261$117,450$347,400$193 smaller
Oakdale, CT 06370 87%590$105,700$332,500$231 8 min shorter commute

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.