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 Deer Lodge, MT 59722

Deer Lodge: median income $62,230, home value $279,000, $174/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lovell, WY 82431 94%235$60,295$221,300$169 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Trinidad, CO 81082 92%759$58,589$244,700$143 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Okanogan, WA 98840 92%348$57,342$261,600$145 newer homes
Mayville, WI 53050 90%1,195$71,985$210,600$170 cheaper homes ($68K less) · 5 min longer commute
Wray, CO 80758 90%679$58,929$234,000$181 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Wheatland, WY 82201 89%488$64,982$290,000$138 newer homes
Worland, WY 82401 89%285$65,583$203,600$147 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Olyphant, PA 18447 88%1,862$66,677$207,900$150 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Canadian, TX 79014 88%966$62,273$204,300$153 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · newer homes
Torrington, WY 82240 88%518$60,766$244,700$120 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Thermopolis, WY 82443 88%279$62,767$230,000$141 cheaper homes ($49K less) · newer homes
Archbold, OH 43502 87%1,445$74,925$203,300$177 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Luverne, MN 56156 87%827$71,066$232,300$133 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Tupper Lake, NY 12986 86%1,847$67,883$158,900$164 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Harborcreek, PA 16421 86%1,636$64,091$224,200$184 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · older residents
Garner, IA 50438 86%964$70,350$197,600$153 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Manchester, IA 52057 86%1,081$69,635$184,300$142 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Weiser, ID 83672 86%252$51,045$272,800$225 larger · newer homes
Ely, NV 89301 86%505$77,518$235,600$176 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Coquille, OR 97423 86%603$61,020$296,100$208 9 min longer commute
Baker City, OR 97814 86%270$64,852$294,400$156 larger · more walkable
Covington, IN 47932 85%1,341$59,811$182,400$134 cheaper homes ($97K less) · 5 min longer commute
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085 85%1,225$73,703$241,900$193 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · newer homes
Ripon, WI 54971 85%1,174$66,699$193,000$189 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Olivia, MN 56277 85%865$70,326$184,500$133 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller

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.