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.

Reset

Towns most like Cotter, AR 72626

Cotter: median income $36,417, home value $266,000, $161/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Meadows Of Dan, VA 24120 82%674$46,901$205,200$220 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Gainesville, MO 65655 82%23$37,337$176,000$145 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · newer homes
Laytonville, CA 95454 81%1,694$42,447$393,700$140 pricier homes ($128K more) · 5 min longer commute
Glade Valley, NC 28627 78%641$46,474$246,400$212 more apartments and townhomes
Bulger, PA 15019 76%718$32,926$157,800$200 cheaper homes ($108K less) · younger residents
Colorado City, CO 81019 76%687$38,056$223,400$241 cheaper homes ($43K less) · newer homes
Tombstone, AZ 85638 76%1,050$37,604$184,000$242 cheaper homes ($82K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Grayland, WA 98547 75%1,772$42,400$215,200$229 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Cherryfield, ME 04622 74%1,409$43,854$165,900$251 cheaper homes ($100K less) · younger residents
Rose City, MI 48654 74%715$45,202$140,800$145 cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger · younger residents
Deadwood, SD 57732 74%812$43,636$232,300$241 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Nucla, CO 81424 73%890$39,960$206,000— cheaper homes ($60K less) · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Westover, MD 21871 72%932$50,524$185,900$189 cheaper homes ($80K less) · 7 min longer commute
Allons, TN 38541 72%402$41,151$220,900$256 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 9 min longer commute · newer homes
Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423 72%1,651$41,143$293,600$211 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Port Orford, OR 97465 72%1,750$43,777$342,100$273 pricier homes ($76K more)
Hopwood, PA 15445 71%743$47,955$179,000$140 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · younger residents
Hot Springs, MT 59845 71%1,372$31,970$191,100$179 cheaper homes ($75K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Antonito, CO 81120 71%750$47,546$188,200$182 cheaper homes ($78K less) · younger residents
Port Austin, MI 48467 70%734$53,750$172,500$189 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger
Kosse, TX 76653 70%415$48,500$150,200$190 cheaper homes ($116K less) · younger residents
Challis, ID 83226 70%1,268$36,458$358,700$146 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · younger residents
Ione, WA 99139 70%1,521$52,404$274,100$143 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Orbisonia, PA 17243 69%838$42,381$155,400$152 cheaper homes ($111K less) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Lottsburg, VA 22511 69%890$48,988$342,600$252 pricier homes ($77K more)

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.