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 Mountain Ranch, CA 95246

Mountain Ranch: median income $98,269, home value $417,100, $200/sq ft, 46-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Damon, TX 77430 90%1,546$85,364$309,600$199 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Cross Junction, VA 22625 89%2,252$95,515$361,900$209 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Rossville, TN 38066 87%1,720$107,660$377,900$200 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Whiteford, MD 21160 85%2,351$106,181$391,300$336 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older homes
Bentonville, VA 22610 85%2,262$81,500$337,700$246 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Suffolk, VA 23432 85%2,386$94,306$391,500$208 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Boston, VA 22713 83%2,273$90,795$377,200$249 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents
Deer Trail, CO 80105 82%887$79,792$374,300$154 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents
Burns, WY 82053 82%883$115,486$260,000$173 cheaper homes ($157K less)
Allyn, WA 98524 82%642$99,483$526,800$306 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger
Bushwood, MD 20618 80%2,348$105,508$355,000$290 cheaper homes ($62K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Stella, NC 28582 80%2,398$89,348$354,900$174 cheaper homes ($62K less) · younger residents
Buckhead, GA 30625 80%2,091$88,534$389,100$192 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Grapeview, WA 98546 80%640$97,159$494,500$336 pricier homes ($77K more)
Rixeyville, VA 22737 79%2,279$99,177$401,000$314 larger · younger residents
Ford, VA 23850 79%2,319$87,986$247,900$220 cheaper homes ($169K less)
Montross, VA 22520 78%2,352$71,487$286,400$230 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger
Terrell, NC 28682 78%2,175$129,390$436,600$190 higher income ($31K more)
Paige, TX 78659 78%1,442$89,808$349,700$210 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · younger residents
Rye, CO 81069 78%846$97,513$364,700$178 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Linden, VA 22642 77%2,273$114,282$361,700$230 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · younger residents
Lanexa, VA 23089 77%2,358$108,802$400,600$252 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Raymond, NE 68428 77%1,272$115,000$385,600$198 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Mico, TX 78056 77%1,371$119,946$553,500$171 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · newer homes
Kiowa, CO 80117 77%866$115,673$667,100$265 pricier homes ($250K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute

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.