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 Montague, CA 96064

Montague: median income $61,157, home value $262,400, $186/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hurlock, MD 21643 95%2,439$67,219$230,000$183 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Mascot, TN 37806 95%2,100$59,605$221,400$202 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Melbourne, KY 41059 95%1,999$58,553$217,400$209 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Oconto Falls, WI 54154 95%1,726$59,767$200,900$172 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Charlestown, NH 03603 94%2,514$56,731$230,400$173 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Mechanic Falls, ME 04256 94%2,596$69,914$270,900$213 Very close on everything we compare
Bucksport, ME 04416 94%2,664$64,587$250,900$195 Very close on everything we compare
Waymart, PA 18472 94%2,398$61,094$247,800$164 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Jackson, VA 22842 94%2,293$60,134$222,500$247 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Fair Haven, MI 48023 94%2,019$70,469$244,200$164 Very close on everything we compare
Edwardsburg, MI 49112 94%1,864$61,785$248,800$182 larger
New Waverly, TX 77358 94%1,684$60,424$238,300$168 Very close on everything we compare
Bakersville, NC 28705 93%2,182$54,858$220,600$186 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Bowdon, GA 30108 93%2,095$70,035$253,300$156 Very close on everything we compare
Silver Creek, GA 30173 93%2,082$63,932$208,800$166 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Stamping Ground, KY 40379 93%1,997$62,228$240,900$193 Very close on everything we compare
Milan, IN 47031 93%1,956$70,575$195,600$188 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Mondovi, WI 54755 93%1,555$72,564$237,400$184 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Osseo, WI 54758 93%1,578$67,930$220,100$152 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Onamia, MN 56359 93%1,455$59,457$232,200$223 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Browerville, MN 56438 93%1,401$62,500$203,000$192 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Hallettsville, TX 77964 93%1,658$68,056$238,300$165 larger
Enosburg Falls, VT 05450 92%2,468$72,875$271,800$203 Very close on everything we compare
Timberville, VA 22853 92%2,291$67,083$245,800$248 Very close on everything we compare
Courtland, VA 23837 92%2,425$66,645$207,300$183 cheaper homes ($55K less)

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.