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 Cascade, ID 83611

Cascade: median income $77,411, home value $429,400, $335/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bonner, MT 59823 94%173$82,813$474,100$349 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Brussels, WI 54204 93%1,369$79,803$379,800$299 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Dolores, CO 81323 93%623$75,393$392,000$291 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Cushing, ME 04563 92%2,260$83,500$409,800$376 smaller
Etowah, NC 28729 92%1,850$84,413$321,000$244 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Deerwood, MN 56444 92%1,056$77,500$365,200$238 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Paonia, CO 81428 92%577$75,799$432,700$279 Very close on everything we compare
Blue Hill, ME 04614 91%2,283$80,377$399,500$276 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Bridport, VT 05734 91%2,067$81,250$358,600$329 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
Seal Rock, OR 97376 91%409$70,446$428,000$368 smaller
Cove, OR 97824 91%115$80,263$413,700$267 smaller
Audubon, MN 56511 90%956$89,875$401,900$261 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Aurora, OR 97002 90%352$70,137$530,100$339 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger
Millerton, NY 12546 89%2,102$84,455$313,300$313 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Hanover, VA 23069 89%2,028$83,453$356,400$274 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Black Earth, WI 53515 89%1,288$92,625$361,300$218 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Oakhurst, CA 93644 89%549$81,196$396,300$250 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Bernardston, MA 01337 88%2,131$85,045$338,800$233 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Freehold, NY 12431 88%2,066$80,694$262,500$265 cheaper homes ($167K less) · smaller
Craryville, NY 12521 88%2,090$75,652$338,700$290 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller · older residents
Madison Lake, MN 56063 88%1,073$102,391$416,300$297 Very close on everything we compare
Absarokee, MT 59001 88%306$82,692$359,000$271 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
East Helena, MT 59635 88%223$83,740$395,600$277 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Tuolumne, CA 95379 88%522$74,230$416,000$266 Very close on everything we compare
Sutter, CA 95982 88%494$96,224$417,000$361 Very close on everything we compare

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.