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 Prescott, AZ 86301

Prescott: median income $72,652, home value $515,400, $313/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fredericksburg, TX 78624 90%843$75,237$463,300$284 cheaper homes ($52K less) · younger residents
Sequim, WA 98382 89%1,083$74,189$493,900$308 older residents · more homeowners
Brevard, NC 28712 86%1,676$63,045$414,300$299 cheaper homes ($101K less) · older homes
Grand Junction, CO 81506 86%378$78,651$448,300$263 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Vero Beach, FL 32967 85%1,942$78,058$423,500$243 cheaper homes ($92K less) · more homeowners
Sandpoint, ID 83864 85%971$70,496$516,500$381 younger residents
Sarasota, FL 34243 84%1,831$81,219$429,400$238 cheaper homes ($86K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Brookings, OR 97415 84%823$69,152$394,800$316 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller
Florence, OR 97439 84%899$61,982$410,900$307 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller · older residents
Panama City Beach, FL 32413 83%1,569$80,039$441,300$334 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Traverse City, MI 49684 83%1,575$80,788$420,200$332 cheaper homes ($95K less) · younger residents · older homes
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 83%353$84,270$486,000$342 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Boulder City, NV 89005 83%166$74,375$435,600$289 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Beaufort, NC 28516 82%2,024$66,057$315,400$270 cheaper homes ($200K less) · smaller
Morehead City, NC 28557 82%2,017$68,528$362,800$249 cheaper homes ($153K less) · smaller · younger residents
Weaverville, NC 28787 82%1,683$78,604$401,700$266 cheaper homes ($114K less) · younger residents
Saint Augustine, FL 32086 82%1,840$76,512$382,800$225 cheaper homes ($133K less) · younger residents
Montrose, CO 81401 82%368$71,286$374,300$280 cheaper homes ($141K less) · younger residents
Cody, WY 82414 82%709$77,958$435,300$252 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · younger residents
Palm Desert, CA 92211 81%231$88,477$583,900$305 pricier homes ($69K more) · older residents
Grass Valley, CA 95945 81%571$65,989$539,500$336 younger residents · older homes
Hendersonville, NC 28739 80%1,689$73,582$394,900$273 cheaper homes ($121K less) · 6 min longer commute
Paradise, CA 95969 80%618$69,067$455,500$287 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Mount Shasta, CA 96067 80%711$65,000$415,400$247 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller · older homes
Port Angeles, WA 98362 80%1,092$70,123$403,300$298 cheaper homes ($112K less) · younger residents · older homes

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.