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 Afton, MN 55001

Afton: median income $133,581, home value $673,900, $243/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Monkton, MD 21111 94%905$136,304$607,200$235 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Suffolk, VA 23433 92%1,012$140,114$503,000$217 cheaper homes ($171K less) · smaller
Wayne, IL 60184 91%305$163,750$642,700$239 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($31K less)
Portland, OR 97231 91%1,452$137,527$858,200$268 pricier homes ($184K more)
Kingsville, MD 21087 89%918$129,188$534,300$229 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger
East Kingston, NH 03827 88%1,092$142,794$600,500$273 cheaper homes ($73K less) · newer homes
Charlotte, VT 05445 88%963$144,375$695,300$377 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgewater, CT 06752 88%1,004$159,365$693,000$335 higher income ($26K more) · smaller
Canterbury, NH 03224 87%1,057$138,125$438,500$245 cheaper homes ($235K less)
Auburn, NH 03032 86%1,073$153,253$600,300$294 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · younger residents
Richboro, PA 18954 86%960$159,857$626,700$265 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
East Sandwich, MA 02537 85%1,142$136,506$639,500$405 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
North Yarmouth, ME 04097 85%1,116$129,267$496,500$340 cheaper homes ($177K less)
South Hero, VT 05486 85%955$126,513$544,700$237 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller · more renters
Killingworth, CT 06419 85%1,047$140,655$446,200$281 cheaper homes ($228K less) · larger
Pipersville, PA 18947 85%949$140,783$615,000$302 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · younger residents
Rockville, VA 23146 85%925$119,583$464,400$258 cheaper homes ($210K less) · newer homes
Hubertus, WI 53033 85%254$136,786$476,900$280 cheaper homes ($197K less) · larger
Hollis, NH 03049 84%1,066$168,883$675,900$286 higher income ($35K more) · larger
Barkhamsted, CT 06063 84%1,017$121,705$373,100$231 cheaper homes ($301K less)
Titusville, NJ 08560 84%964$128,516$420,300$302 cheaper homes ($254K less) · older homes
Asbury, NJ 08802 84%945$135,689$461,700$261 cheaper homes ($212K less) · larger
Defiance, MO 63341 84%441$170,598$606,800$224 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($67K less) · newer homes
Sedalia, CO 80135 84%735$136,083$880,500$312 pricier homes ($207K more) · 6 min longer commute
Lyons, CO 80540 84%711$139,521$795,500$371 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger · 5 min longer 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.