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 Bayfield, CO 81122

Bayfield: median income $93,714, home value $459,800, $322/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Beaufort, SC 29907 94%1,558$97,446$428,000$259 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Mills River, NC 28759 93%1,396$107,609$444,300$274 Very close on everything we compare
Lenoir City, TN 37772 93%1,300$100,711$429,800$234 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Banks, OR 97106 93%988$104,250$546,400$321 pricier homes ($87K more) · smaller
East Helena, MT 59635 91%682$83,740$395,600$277 cheaper homes ($64K less)
White Salmon, WA 98672 91%925$97,622$669,200$415 pricier homes ($209K more)
Gray, ME 04039 90%1,991$95,125$357,500$270 cheaper homes ($102K less) · older homes
Mc Gaheysville, VA 22840 90%1,571$95,667$382,500$257 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Williamsburg, MI 49690 90%1,263$108,712$352,200$306 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Adel, IA 50003 90%783$103,114$395,400$256 cheaper homes ($64K less) · younger residents
Belleville, WI 53508 90%1,029$99,948$350,700$230 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller
Madison Lake, MN 56063 90%865$102,391$416,300$297 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · older homes
Blaine, WA 98230 90%1,107$86,623$499,800$316 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Blanco, TX 78606 89%724$94,817$437,600$230 Very close on everything we compare
Turner, OR 97392 89%953$109,237$576,000$314 pricier homes ($116K more)
Jacksonville, OR 97530 89%885$89,239$617,400$313 pricier homes ($158K more) · older homes
Windham, ME 04062 88%1,987$107,934$388,900$317 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · older homes
Gansevoort, NY 12831 88%1,822$100,024$343,100$264 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger
Holly Ridge, NC 28445 88%1,687$84,016$386,100$246 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Alexander, NC 28701 88%1,388$108,125$324,300$278 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller
Waleska, GA 30183 88%1,304$94,567$451,100$235 older residents
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472 88%941$81,328$342,500$254 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Salado, TX 76571 88%722$111,863$466,100$218 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Vernon, WA 98274 88%1,060$96,177$547,700$360 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger
Hope Valley, RI 02832 87%1,924$105,976$432,300$270 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · 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.