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 Hamilton City, CA 95951

Hamilton City: median income $70,294, home value $330,100, $285/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Christiana, PA 17509 92%2,412$77,238$331,600$215 larger
Wendell, ID 83355 91%432$65,764$283,300$227 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Gordonville, PA 17529 90%2,406$80,050$362,100$232 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Bowling Green, VA 22427 85%2,389$81,488$315,700$214 larger
Homedale, ID 83628 84%374$68,854$323,100$277 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Mabton, WA 98935 84%458$61,316$225,500$232 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger
Boardman, OR 97818 83%436$61,523$275,700$226 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Soap Lake, WA 98851 83%543$63,333$242,800$234 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · older residents
Granger, WA 98932 83%466$71,806$250,000$197 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · younger residents
Mesa, WA 99343 83%494$59,451$253,000— cheaper homes ($77K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Ronks, PA 17572 82%2,403$80,804$288,800$237 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Hansen, ID 83334 82%445$64,583$272,800$235 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Ferron, UT 84523 82%581$71,212$229,500$204 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Mill City, OR 97360 82%347$67,250$310,100$278 older residents · 8 min longer commute
Mount Angel, OR 97362 81%371$66,250$462,400$287 pricier homes ($132K more) · larger · older residents
Brewster, WA 98812 81%590$59,297$354,500$273 larger · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Ephrata, WA 98823 81%535$73,074$267,300$223 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Minotola, NJ 08341 80%2,475$68,830$189,400$191 cheaper homes ($141K less)
Lakehurst, NJ 08733 80%2,497$85,750$248,400$244 cheaper homes ($82K less) · older residents
Newport, MN 55055 80%1,515$71,979$378,100$245 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · older residents
Gooding, ID 83330 80%438$60,842$254,900$235 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Hazelton, ID 83335 80%454$61,053$251,300$226 cheaper homes ($79K less) · more single-family homes
Terreton, ID 83450 80%570$70,046$231,300— cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Plummer, ID 83851 80%584$57,356$251,200$290 cheaper homes ($79K less) · older residents
Greenleaf, ID 83626 79%381$69,531$353,900$410 more single-family homes

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.