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 Rio Dell, CA 95562

Rio Dell: median income $42,975, home value $305,000, $216/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milton Freewater, OR 97862 84%474$54,786$274,900$220 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
East Flat Rock, NC 28726 80%2,280$54,152$198,400$237 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Ontario, OR 97914 78%439$50,857$249,200$191 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Lake Wales, FL 33853 77%2,553$44,474$209,300$144 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Brewster, WA 98812 77%568$59,297$354,500$273 pricier homes ($50K more) · less walkable
Henrico, VA 23075 76%2,490$55,567$222,700$224 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Cashion, AZ 85329 76%813$36,399$240,000— cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · older homes
Littleton, NH 03561 75%2,637$56,746$282,900$213 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Vale, OR 97918 75%425$63,342$298,100$219 more homeowners
Fort Pierce, FL 34946 74%2,631$40,315$158,300$198 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger · less walkable
Fort Pierce, FL 34947 74%2,633$51,811$279,000$210 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Chattanooga, TN 37406 74%2,138$44,850$168,000$176 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger
Conrad, MT 59425 74%800$49,805$219,600$144 cheaper homes ($85K less) · less walkable
Gooding, ID 83330 74%513$60,842$254,900$235 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · less walkable
Tucson, AZ 85714 74%929$55,000$203,600$194 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger
Berwick, LA 70342 73%1,988$51,580$212,400$154 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more homeowners
Sterling, CO 80751 73%1,094$48,682$252,900$170 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · older homes
Delta, CO 81416 73%862$50,243$319,400$262 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Loving, NM 88256 73%1,246$45,714$211,000$241 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Roseburg, OR 97470 73%194$54,751$260,400$224 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Union, OR 97883 73%454$65,172$239,100$229 cheaper homes ($66K less) · more homeowners
Warden, WA 98857 73%514$61,860$213,300$225 cheaper homes ($92K less) · more homeowners
South Fallsburg, NY 12779 72%2,541$47,688$287,200$216 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Corpus Christi, TX 78417 72%1,752$53,750$155,200$178 cheaper homes ($150K less)
Clifton, CO 81520 72%836$50,283$249,600$261 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.