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.

Reset

Towns most like Murphys, CA 95247

Murphys: median income $76,333, home value $537,400, $306/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Buffalo, MI 49117 92%1,791$75,114$488,000$351 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Enfield, NH 03748 88%2,517$95,089$388,500$290 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Wolfeboro, NH 03894 88%2,563$94,349$548,600$347 larger
Nags Head, NC 27959 88%2,455$91,264$490,800$424 cheaper homes ($47K less)
White Stone, VA 22578 87%2,380$80,783$441,600$252 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Meredith, NH 03253 86%2,548$84,719$482,700$354 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Westbrook, CT 06498 86%2,528$91,202$434,300$328 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · older homes
Custer, SD 57730 86%965$83,469$378,800$279 cheaper homes ($159K less) · 5 min longer commute
El Prado, NM 87529 86%825$61,618$487,300$336 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Carson City, NV 89703 86%80$85,230$626,500$330 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
La Conner, WA 98257 86%718$94,425$506,200$300 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Minocqua, WI 54548 85%1,652$69,569$336,400$288 cheaper homes ($201K less)
Red Lodge, MT 59068 85%755$80,962$438,700$366 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Johnson City, TX 78636 85%1,369$72,663$532,600$263 Very close on everything we compare
Rockaway Beach, OR 97136 85%547$66,106$375,000$372 cheaper homes ($162K less) · smaller
Joseph, OR 97846 85%526$71,471$383,200$341 cheaper homes ($154K less) · smaller
Long Beach, WA 98631 85%598$71,705$409,400$335 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Lincolnville, ME 04849 84%2,659$80,377$360,600$329 cheaper homes ($177K less)
Saint Michaels, MD 21663 84%2,370$89,775$650,500$438 pricier homes ($113K more)
Flat Rock, NC 28731 84%2,103$66,309$402,300$253 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger
Seneca, SC 29672 84%2,083$90,650$482,100$271 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Flagler Beach, FL 32136 84%2,317$78,818$471,000$280 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Harbor Springs, MI 49740 84%1,878$89,250$363,500$312 cheaper homes ($174K less) · larger
Cornville, AZ 86325 84%530$74,679$442,800$272 cheaper homes ($95K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Arroyo Seco, NM 87514 84%826$71,556$545,200$432 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.