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 Divide, CO 80814

Divide: median income $80,500, home value $466,800, $254/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Thayne, WY 83127 92%409$87,743$482,700$325 Very close on everything we compare
Florence, MT 59833 90%695$94,097$551,600$333 pricier homes ($85K more)
Twain Harte, CA 95383 90%814$86,970$461,100$265 older homes
Penn Valley, CA 95946 90%857$84,795$565,700$257 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger
Volcano, HI 96785 90%3,253$68,463$369,000$329 cheaper homes ($98K less)
West End, NC 27376 89%1,432$74,598$349,300$208 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger
Lanexa, VA 23089 88%1,534$108,802$400,600$252 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($66K less)
Hidden Valley Lake, CA 95467 88%931$84,152$393,100$212 cheaper homes ($74K less) · 6 min longer commute
Waretown, NJ 08758 87%1,649$96,900$486,300$266 larger · more walkable
Street, MD 21154 87%1,535$97,658$455,400$257 Very close on everything we compare
Moneta, VA 24121 87%1,391$81,006$391,800$299 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
New Hampton, NH 03256 86%1,759$87,917$382,000$353 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Naples, ME 04055 85%1,811$78,188$340,100$334 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Bentonville, VA 22610 85%1,443$81,500$337,700$246 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller
Boyce, VA 22620 85%1,454$99,896$539,300$224 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller · older homes
Saluda, NC 28773 85%1,283$70,703$413,700$319 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571 85%1,222$62,917$312,400$204 cheaper homes ($154K less)
Temple, NH 03084 84%1,751$94,107$401,000$293 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Swanton, MD 21561 84%1,385$73,858$328,700$295 cheaper homes ($138K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Mineral, VA 23117 84%1,474$89,241$301,400$264 cheaper homes ($165K less) · larger · younger residents
Sherrills Ford, NC 28673 84%1,345$99,688$459,200$195 more apartments and townhomes
Waleska, GA 30183 84%1,185$94,567$451,100$235 8 min shorter commute
Joelton, TN 37080 84%1,015$87,963$333,700$232 cheaper homes ($133K less)
Captain Cook, HI 96704 84%3,292$86,941$662,200$294 pricier homes ($195K more) · larger · younger residents
Merlin, OR 97532 84%984$81,167$445,400$281 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.