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 Athol, ID 83801

Athol: median income $71,108, home value $612,500, $402/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stevensville, MT 59870 88%159$80,325$515,600$354 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Colton, OR 97017 85%331$83,355$610,300$323 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Granite Falls, WA 98252 85%241$98,370$520,700$375 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($92K less)
Cle Elum, WA 98922 85%204$73,603$647,600$457 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents
Myakka City, FL 34251 84%2,333$92,005$481,900$345 cheaper homes ($131K less)
Platteville, CO 80651 84%795$81,586$474,700$277 cheaper homes ($138K less) · smaller
Estacada, OR 97023 84%322$76,762$562,600$280 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Toledo, WA 98591 84%304$78,952$471,100$324 cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller · older residents
Colfax, CA 95713 82%647$87,839$487,000$312 cheaper homes ($126K less) · older homes
Vernonia, OR 97064 82%337$67,317$383,600$298 cheaper homes ($229K less) · smaller
Belfair, WA 98528 82%290$91,058$430,200$303 cheaper homes ($182K less) · larger
Tenino, WA 98589 82%295$83,855$438,700$317 cheaper homes ($174K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Silt, CO 81652 81%736$101,038$530,000$310 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($83K less)
Garden Valley, CA 95633 81%659$74,258$434,200$304 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller · older homes
Deer Park, WA 99006 80%35$72,200$419,600$260 cheaper homes ($193K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Loon Lake, WA 99148 80%43$67,431$429,900$336 cheaper homes ($183K less) · smaller · older residents
Calhan, CO 80808 79%875$85,500$411,100$235 cheaper homes ($201K less)
Sultan, WA 98294 79%232$96,676$527,600$314 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($85K less) · younger residents
Eatonville, WA 98328 79%269$103,696$591,800$355 higher income ($33K more) · 5 min longer commute
Goochland, VA 23063 78%2,058$81,553$363,200$255 cheaper homes ($249K less)
Wittmann, AZ 85361 78%1,002$77,361$412,400$247 cheaper homes ($200K less) · 5 min longer commute
Monroe, OR 97456 78%402$71,111$407,700$327 cheaper homes ($205K less) · smaller · older homes
Cross Plains, TN 37049 77%1,712$90,048$368,800$315 cheaper homes ($244K less) · smaller
Alberton, MT 59820 77%123$69,091$367,400$285 cheaper homes ($245K less) · smaller
New Castle, CO 81647 77%736$78,352$456,200$380 cheaper homes ($156K less) · younger residents · 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.