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 Arenas Valley, NM 88022

Arenas Valley: median income $37,147, home value $173,100, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Earp, CA 92242 88%366$37,500$128,100$107 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Bodfish, CA 93205 81%619$39,590$143,100$183 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Weldon, CA 93283 77%610$48,053$180,600$127 larger · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Merry Hill, NC 27957 70%1,796$36,875$140,100$105 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more single-family homes
Tombstone, AZ 85638 70%132$37,604$184,000$242 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Littlefield, AZ 86432 70%432$48,627$249,800— pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · newer homes
Weippe, ID 83553 68%1,025$39,191$204,700$167 pricier homes ($32K more) · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Nucla, CO 81424 67%379$39,960$206,000— pricier homes ($33K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Georgetown, GA 39854 65%1,346$41,536$102,700$166 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Stoutland, MO 65567 65%949$55,050$147,600$192 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 6 min longer commute
Deport, TX 75435 65%743$50,000$135,800$257 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Castalia, NC 27816 64%1,724$33,718$141,700$148 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · 12 min longer commute
Garysburg, NC 27831 64%1,752$36,136$87,300— cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · younger residents
Jean, NV 89019 64%467$45,054$234,700$70 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · younger residents
Gainesville, MO 65655 63%932$37,337$176,000$145 larger · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579 62%1,645$45,944$165,600$120 younger residents · more single-family homes · older homes
Challis, ID 83226 60%871$36,458$358,700$146 pricier homes ($186K more) · larger · younger residents
Hermitage, MO 65668 59%909$38,449$138,400$145 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 14 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Cartwright, OK 74731 59%675$54,286$158,000$180 younger residents · more single-family homes
Worthville, KY 41098 57%1,354$33,125$86,300$105 cheaper homes ($87K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Wofford Heights, CA 93285 57%620$40,275$219,400$159 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · 16 min longer commute
Van Buren, ME 04785 56%2,318$41,528$114,200$126 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · younger residents
Satsuma, FL 32189 56%1,581$42,920$152,500$185 larger · younger residents · 13 min longer commute
Sebastian, FL 32976 56%1,678$46,712$175,400$210 larger · older residents · 10 min longer commute
Russells Point, OH 43348 56%1,442$51,426$173,000$217 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.