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 Inyokern, CA 93527

Inyokern: median income $62,596, home value $319,000, $157/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cape Vincent, NY 13618 92%2,253$61,494$228,700$143 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Bracey, VA 23919 92%2,204$66,750$300,000$203 newer homes
Arapahoe, NC 28510 91%2,297$58,839$264,100$240 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Buchanan Dam, TX 78609 90%1,171$64,418$319,700$189 Very close on everything we compare
Panacea, FL 32346 89%1,972$61,700$267,200$257 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Franklin, ME 04634 88%2,651$67,589$264,600$166 cheaper homes ($54K less) · younger residents
Chelsea, VT 05038 87%2,444$62,000$254,800$154 cheaper homes ($64K less) · older homes
New Ringgold, PA 17960 87%2,281$73,281$231,300$168 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger
North Lima, OH 44452 87%2,035$61,602$256,600$119 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Eddington, ME 04428 86%2,634$72,857$244,500$159 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Waldoboro, ME 04572 86%2,598$69,107$274,900$192 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · younger residents
Albion, ME 04910 86%2,591$62,361$230,900$185 cheaper homes ($88K less) · 8 min longer commute
Germanton, NC 27019 86%2,092$59,176$205,000$174 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger
Grafton, IL 62037 86%1,519$73,454$228,500$143 cheaper homes ($91K less) · 7 min longer commute
Eureka Springs, AR 72631 86%1,344$56,678$259,300$169 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Hagerman, ID 83332 86%520$64,792$226,200$250 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Alstead, NH 03602 85%2,455$70,455$279,400$216 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 6 min longer commute
North Creek, NY 12853 85%2,370$57,950$214,600$236 cheaper homes ($104K less)
New Paris, PA 15554 85%2,145$50,500$273,000$149 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Renfrew, PA 16053 85%2,070$76,054$297,500$218 larger
Tyner, NC 27980 85%2,288$66,111$259,300$202 cheaper homes ($60K less) · 5 min longer commute
Shelby, AL 35143 85%1,787$72,500$220,000$214 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger
Osakis, MN 56360 85%1,376$69,013$246,300$173 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Ulen, MN 56585 85%1,363$71,250$301,400$125 smaller · younger residents
Culdesac, ID 83524 85%745$63,333$249,400$168 cheaper homes ($70K less) · 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.