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 Saint Maries, ID 83861

Saint Maries: median income $65,508, home value $307,800, $237/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Coquille, OR 97423 96%467$61,020$296,100$208 Very close on everything we compare
Belmont, NH 03220 95%2,173$68,242$316,200$280 Very close on everything we compare
Farmington, NH 03835 94%2,195$66,982$289,800$242 Very close on everything we compare
Bucksport, ME 04416 93%2,267$64,587$250,900$195 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Waldoboro, ME 04572 93%2,253$69,107$274,900$192 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Elkton, VA 22827 93%1,995$70,519$252,500$194 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Spruce Pine, NC 28777 93%1,928$63,378$228,400$186 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Chewelah, WA 99109 93%88$62,391$327,400$235 older residents
West Jefferson, NC 28694 92%1,937$58,486$273,200$266 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Park Rapids, MN 56470 92%1,009$67,500$291,100$192 larger
Hermann, MO 65041 92%1,395$70,368$249,200$179 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Yerington, NV 89447 92%589$56,691$277,500$233 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Raymond, WA 98577 92%338$63,780$276,500$200 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Colville, WA 99114 92%107$62,711$301,600$225 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Edinburg, VA 22824 91%1,981$63,594$318,200$198 5 min longer commute
Canton, NC 28716 91%1,909$63,141$237,800$240 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Clyde, NC 28721 91%1,903$62,279$281,800$232 cheaper homes ($26K less) · newer homes
White Pine, TN 37890 91%1,865$59,355$234,200$197 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Watertown, WI 53098 91%1,374$74,431$253,600$216 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Cumberland, WI 54829 91%1,170$66,538$245,800$217 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Weyauwega, WI 54983 91%1,339$71,094$229,700$251 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Glenwood, MN 56334 91%1,011$69,525$279,900$191 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Ingram, TX 78025 91%1,505$70,964$248,200$202 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Montague, CA 96064 91%482$61,157$262,400$186 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · younger residents
Weed, CA 96094 91%497$68,103$332,300$208 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.