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 Tijeras, NM 87059

Tijeras: median income $92,315, home value $347,700, $253/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Metamora, MI 48455 93%1,345$103,835$367,900$235 Very close on everything we compare
Gurley, AL 35748 91%1,127$103,563$356,300$198 5 min shorter commute
Pinckney, MI 48169 91%1,306$109,329$373,400$236 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Wyoming, MN 55092 91%998$95,337$363,900$206 Very close on everything we compare
Weare, NH 03281 90%1,922$118,271$396,300$242 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($49K more)
Palmyra, VA 22963 90%1,561$104,259$327,900$203 larger
Advance, NC 27006 90%1,451$96,580$334,600$191 larger
Burns, TN 37029 90%1,069$97,222$419,400$239 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller · younger residents
Epsom, NH 03234 89%1,941$97,941$338,400$251 smaller
Beacon Falls, CT 06403 89%1,845$101,516$350,300$279 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Mineral, VA 23117 89%1,585$89,241$301,400$264 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Providence Forge, VA 23140 89%1,632$97,500$336,600$203 5 min longer commute
Efland, NC 27243 89%1,521$84,348$298,600$270 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Cicero, IN 46034 89%1,161$91,466$311,100$210 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Manchester, MI 48158 89%1,294$94,784$312,200$190 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older homes
Roland, AR 72135 89%780$102,500$319,200$221 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Winthrop, ME 04364 88%2,017$86,470$294,800$234 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · older homes
Lebanon, CT 06249 88%1,888$109,135$345,900$216 older homes
Smithfield, VA 23430 88%1,657$104,065$367,400$208 larger
Knoxville, TN 37938 88%1,256$84,135$322,500$205 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Thornville, OH 43076 88%1,348$91,085$300,500$227 cheaper homes ($47K less)
White Lake, MI 48383 88%1,328$102,072$336,800$188 younger residents
Cedar, MI 49621 88%1,274$95,446$396,600$278 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Belchertown, MA 01007 87%1,882$108,125$371,400$258 larger
Brimfield, MA 01010 87%1,893$111,250$389,100$247 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller

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.