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 Fairfield, ID 83327

Fairfield: median income $66,250, home value $287,900, $196/sq ft, 42-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brownfield, ME 04010 87%2,168$60,889$287,500$265 larger
Quicksburg, VA 22847 86%1,892$88,906$347,800$210 pricier homes ($60K more)
Springfield, WV 26763 85%1,875$68,384$261,500$186 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Titus, AL 36080 84%1,709$70,703$231,300$184 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · less walkable
Pierce, CO 80650 84%548$57,083$393,200$229 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger
Freeman, MO 64746 82%1,105$79,682$275,000$203 older homes
Forestburg, TX 76239 82%1,149$76,250$228,200$179 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Pahala, HI 96777 82%2,882$64,643$233,200$239 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · older homes
Whitingham, VT 05361 81%2,093$75,714$247,400$166 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents · older homes
Pierson, MI 49339 81%1,463$86,611$241,100$206 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Schuyler, VA 22969 80%1,917$94,659$314,200$234 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Shawboro, NC 27973 80%2,088$86,375$322,200$223 pricier homes ($34K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Creighton, MO 64739 80%1,128$85,375$305,400$179 6 min shorter commute
Grafton, NH 03240 79%2,123$81,563$267,300$223 older residents
Saint Elizabeth, MO 65075 79%1,225$87,431$283,100— 5 min shorter commute
Church Hill, MD 21623 78%2,018$78,345$391,400$183 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Sequatchie, TN 37374 78%1,649$67,826$256,600$134 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents
Arrington, VA 22922 77%1,907$60,125$226,000$206 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · older residents
Shipman, VA 22971 77%1,912$79,135$319,000$260 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Machipongo, VA 23405 77%2,068$59,663$341,800$241 pricier homes ($54K more) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Knotts Island, NC 27950 77%2,090$88,250$290,300$255 larger
Readyville, TN 37149 77%1,598$78,345$402,900$268 pricier homes ($115K more) · larger · older residents
Cromwell, MN 55726 77%1,091$80,313$227,300$246 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older residents
Blakeslee, PA 18610 76%1,997$67,656$239,100$180 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Callao, VA 22435 76%2,019$50,809$187,100$175 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute

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.