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 Elverta, CA 95626

Elverta: median income $90,897, home value $467,000, $344/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Castle Rock, WA 98611 90%527$86,322$425,700$273 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Homestead, FL 33031 89%2,538$109,945$497,400$375 pricier homes ($30K more)
Shelbyville, MI 49344 88%1,882$84,661$313,400$307 cheaper homes ($154K less)
Oakville, WA 98568 88%568$84,531$426,200$315 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
La Salle, CO 80645 86%897$87,609$427,200$256 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents
Columbia City, OR 97018 86%500$96,750$460,000$294 smaller
Acushnet, MA 02743 85%2,636$89,593$434,000$288 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · older homes
Collbran, CO 81624 85%727$91,739$472,600$431 smaller
Tacoma, WA 98443 85%588$105,035$519,100$320 pricier homes ($52K more)
Milton, NH 03851 84%2,607$93,412$314,300$376 cheaper homes ($153K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Hanover, VA 23069 84%2,372$83,453$356,400$274 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller
Bath, NC 27808 84%2,448$90,472$372,500$295 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller · older residents
Platteville, CO 80651 84%893$81,586$474,700$277 5 min longer commute
New Plymouth, ID 83655 84%434$84,542$371,300$261 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Gardnerville, NV 89460 84%94$92,292$501,700$368 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
North Berwick, ME 03906 83%2,623$105,156$432,900$325 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Voluntown, CT 06384 83%2,590$106,518$354,900$311 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller
Holtwood, PA 17532 83%2,389$84,562$348,600$312 cheaper homes ($118K less) · smaller
Madison, VA 22727 83%2,310$84,857$379,900$228 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Kingston Springs, TN 37082 83%1,882$98,361$418,800$256 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Maple Lake, MN 55358 83%1,473$92,039$329,500$228 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Richmond, MN 56368 83%1,448$97,407$321,100$254 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Corvallis, MT 59828 83%644$80,294$544,500$335 pricier homes ($78K more) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Priest River, ID 83856 83%691$75,285$427,900$333 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Newburg, MD 20664 82%2,383$88,438$475,700$254 smaller · 9 min longer 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.