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 Seeley Lake, MT 59868

Seeley Lake: median income $51,490, home value $391,600, $403/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Longville, MN 56655 93%905$57,404$335,200$377 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Brinnon, WA 98320 86%443$55,893$285,200$399 cheaper homes ($106K less) · 5 min longer commute
Hackensack, MN 56452 85%891$62,941$352,700$300 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 7 min longer commute
Drummond Island, MI 49726 84%1,406$67,232$273,200— cheaper homes ($118K less) · smaller
Lakemont, GA 30552 83%1,773$66,316$354,700$390 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents
Mercer, WI 54547 83%1,108$63,500$306,600$296 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Climax Springs, MO 65324 82%1,210$52,969$311,300$235 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · older homes
Shell Knob, MO 65747 81%1,249$55,060$289,900$250 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger
Crawford, CO 81415 81%657$59,141$330,900$333 cheaper homes ($61K less) · younger residents · older homes
Freedom, NH 03836 80%2,042$66,136$389,000$344 Very close on everything we compare
Three Lakes, WI 54562 80%1,157$57,422$326,300$370 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Minong, WI 54859 80%1,025$55,882$225,300$336 cheaper homes ($166K less) · younger residents
Golden, MO 65658 80%1,252$51,641$321,800$215 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Roach, MO 65787 80%1,213$62,917$314,500$254 cheaper homes ($77K less) · younger residents
Clarkdale, AZ 86324 80%860$46,813$374,400$280 larger · more renters
Lakeside, OR 97449 80%574$66,000$316,700$272 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Raphine, VA 24472 79%1,839$51,429$251,000$268 cheaper homes ($141K less) · younger residents
Dubois, WY 82513 79%312$66,332$382,600$330 more renters · older homes
Mackay, ID 83251 79%226$73,482$366,900$286 Very close on everything we compare
Greenville, ME 04441 78%2,070$64,789$291,900$361 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Saint Germain, WI 54558 78%1,139$59,718$261,000$345 cheaper homes ($131K less) · younger residents · older homes
Sunrise Beach, MO 65079 78%1,217$70,024$394,800$302 larger
Garden Valley, ID 83622 78%242$65,625$576,800$332 pricier homes ($185K more) · 7 min longer commute
Nehalem, OR 97131 78%506$70,833$459,000$356 pricier homes ($67K more) · younger residents
Lottsburg, VA 22511 77%1,965$48,988$342,600$252 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older homes

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.