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 Strathmore, CA 93267

Strathmore: median income $47,344, home value $237,000, $255/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Decherd, TN 37324 86%1,845$50,417$223,200$196 Very close on everything we compare
Florence, CO 81226 85%782$53,969$258,800$224 older residents
Stanley, VA 22851 84%2,216$53,329$187,500$205 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Wadley, AL 36276 83%1,908$52,471$195,800$241 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
South Pittsburg, TN 37380 83%1,867$59,304$194,500$218 cheaper homes ($43K less)
La Follette, TN 37766 83%1,938$50,063$187,900$224 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · older residents
Mount Pleasant, TN 38474 83%1,778$59,724$247,000$223 larger
Frazeysburg, OH 43822 83%2,012$60,266$207,300$195 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Eckert, CO 81418 83%637$54,417$266,000$203 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Shenandoah, VA 22849 82%2,212$67,261$211,400$213 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Pamplin, VA 23958 82%2,224$53,650$201,400$209 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Cowan, TN 37318 82%1,848$52,125$177,100$178 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Stanley, WI 54768 82%1,588$54,964$208,700$158 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Malin, OR 97632 82%425$44,167$273,400$206 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · older homes
Federalsburg, MD 21632 81%2,360$61,316$216,000$184 older residents
Norwood, NC 28128 81%2,171$53,818$222,300$226 older residents
Camden, MI 49232 81%1,873$56,324$210,500$206 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Greenville, VA 24440 80%2,189$46,178$280,300$207 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Spring Hope, NC 27882 80%2,272$52,691$169,900$195 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · older residents
Lilesville, NC 28091 80%2,185$52,917$152,900— cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller
Crane, MO 65633 80%1,415$49,349$172,600$163 cheaper homes ($64K less) · older residents
Norwood, MO 65717 80%1,476$61,146$207,000$293 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Waymart, PA 18472 79%2,354$61,094$247,800$164 older residents
Holly Pond, AL 35083 79%1,830$55,335$225,400$180 younger residents · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Sneedville, TN 37869 79%1,983$39,331$160,100$168 cheaper homes ($77K less)

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.