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 Idaho Springs, CO 80452

Idaho Springs: median income $75,565, home value $449,300, $344/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Williams Bay, WI 53191 94%907$75,833$414,600$282 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Idyllwild, CA 92549 89%741$73,750$532,300$340 pricier homes ($83K more) · more renters
Vergennes, VT 05491 88%1,677$87,917$337,400$286 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger
Great Barrington, MA 01230 87%1,680$86,694$527,300$378 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger
Camden, ME 04843 84%1,885$82,344$520,600$375 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Germantown, NY 12526 84%1,655$97,679$485,000$361 pricier homes ($36K more) · less walkable
New Buffalo, MI 49117 83%995$75,114$488,000$351 pricier homes ($39K more) · older residents
West Yarmouth, MA 02673 82%1,844$73,854$502,200$411 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Greenville, RI 02828 82%1,775$97,196$440,900$291 larger
Meredith, NH 03253 82%1,767$84,719$482,700$354 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · older residents
Lincolnville, ME 04849 82%1,885$80,377$360,600$329 cheaper homes ($89K less) · older residents · newer homes
Bristol, VT 05443 82%1,688$88,594$356,600$238 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Waitsfield, VT 05673 82%1,700$98,068$448,000$362 Very close on everything we compare
Deep River, CT 06417 82%1,733$90,253$362,200$286 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more renters
Trinidad, CA 95570 82%978$74,777$635,400$447 pricier homes ($186K more) · more renters
Florence, MA 01062 81%1,714$87,588$421,000$358 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Topsham, ME 04086 81%1,844$91,028$360,800$296 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Moretown, VT 05660 81%1,704$96,125$425,200$274 smaller
New Preston Marble Dale, CT 06777 81%1,686$94,643$455,700$390 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Williamsburg, MA 01096 80%1,709$104,375$374,900$248 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($74K less)
Camino, CA 95709 80%809$79,780$578,700$298 pricier homes ($129K more) · larger
Hatfield, MA 01038 79%1,717$106,635$442,500$314 higher income ($31K more) · less walkable
Eliot, ME 03903 79%1,805$101,522$498,900$363 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Pownal, ME 04069 79%1,831$104,333$436,800$355 higher income ($29K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Arlington, VT 05250 79%1,686$96,250$300,700$267 cheaper homes ($149K less) · younger residents

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.