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 Oakley, UT 84055

Oakley: median income $126,071, home value $677,000, $377/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Barnstable, MA 02668 81%2,105$111,731$709,300$459 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · older residents
Kneeland, CA 95549 81%662$95,179$651,600$280 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Mesa, CO 81643 80%198$106,813$605,300$287 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Prole, IA 50229 79%912$123,164$416,700— cheaper homes ($260K less) · older residents
Fresno, CA 93737 79%535$127,279$525,400$262 cheaper homes ($152K less) · larger
Dundee, OR 97115 79%672$117,446$526,200$336 cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger · older residents
Clancy, MT 59634 78%398$129,891$553,900$264 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger · older residents
Mather, CA 95655 78%555$143,958$587,800$338 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · more renters
North Plains, OR 97133 78%684$133,167$680,000$282 larger · older residents
Malcolm, NE 68402 77%751$123,000$449,000$241 cheaper homes ($228K less) · older residents
Banks, OR 97106 77%687$104,250$546,400$321 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger · older residents
West Creek, NJ 08092 76%1,937$110,509$496,900$322 cheaper homes ($180K less) · larger · older residents
Thiells, NY 10984 76%1,928$121,250$598,600$374 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Virginia Beach, VA 23457 76%1,908$116,250$571,000$312 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · older residents
Granger, IA 50109 76%906$118,669$370,100$251 cheaper homes ($307K less) · larger
Sandy Hook, VA 23153 75%1,785$122,096$462,500$245 cheaper homes ($215K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
North Prairie, WI 53153 75%1,183$152,543$430,100$271 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($247K less) · larger
Frenchtown, MT 59834 75%462$94,406$449,500$307 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($228K less) · larger
Firth, NE 68358 75%766$111,705$434,300$221 cheaper homes ($243K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Loma, CO 81524 75%165$99,947$665,600$369 lower income ($26K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Custer, WA 98240 75%794$110,116$619,700$340 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Nottingham, NH 03290 74%2,050$122,201$457,500$345 cheaper homes ($220K less) · larger · older residents
Slate Hill, NY 10973 74%1,901$117,167$410,600$267 cheaper homes ($266K less) · 7 min longer commute
Clear Brook, VA 22624 74%1,747$104,375$438,200$229 cheaper homes ($239K less) · larger
Bucyrus, KS 66013 74%889$164,320$724,500$234 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($48K more) · larger

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.