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 Gates, OR 97346

Gates: median income $83,750, home value $391,900, $280/sq ft, 46-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mc Clellanville, SC 29458 84%2,409$86,431$370,900$337 larger · more single-family homes
Osteen, FL 32764 84%2,498$86,224$350,700$220 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Mapleville, RI 02839 83%2,516$97,292$338,000$197 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Vader, WA 98593 81%117$84,244$343,800$273 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Lakebay, WA 98349 80%176$75,875$370,200$316 larger
Garden Valley, CA 95633 78%414$74,258$434,200$304 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · younger residents
Caliente, CA 93518 77%681$62,321$285,500$167 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Moncure, NC 27559 76%2,342$74,490$385,000$233 larger · 10 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Buckhead, GA 30625 75%2,207$88,534$389,100$192 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Comfort, TX 78013 75%1,635$82,492$416,300$224 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Aguanga, CA 92536 75%836$79,551$519,100$348 pricier homes ($127K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Montague, NJ 07827 74%2,384$101,444$346,200$234 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · younger residents
Graford, TX 76449 74%1,522$72,813$398,700$299 larger · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Kingsbury, TX 78638 74%1,695$69,250$317,400$307 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · younger residents
Cat Spring, TX 78933 74%1,754$68,444$272,600$293 cheaper homes ($119K less) · more single-family homes
Horseshoe Bend, ID 83629 74%313$72,500$398,000$296 larger · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Bridgton, ME 04009 73%2,507$78,021$317,100$325 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Houston, AL 35572 72%1,995$70,911$305,000$468 cheaper homes ($87K less) · older residents
Damon, TX 77430 72%1,805$85,364$309,600$199 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Kendrick, ID 83537 72%308$71,917$327,300$197 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Hoodsport, WA 98548 72%188$68,452$315,000$295 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · older residents
Grafton, NH 03240 71%2,460$81,563$267,300$223 cheaper homes ($125K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Naples, ME 04055 71%2,515$78,188$340,100$334 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Clintondale, NY 12515 71%2,408$103,500$339,100$134 cheaper homes ($53K less) · younger residents
Ford, VA 23850 71%2,359$87,986$247,900$220 cheaper homes ($144K less) · 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.