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 Jefferson, OR 97352

Jefferson: median income $107,000, home value $441,700, $313/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Narvon, PA 17555 96%2,386$116,429$392,900$334 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Kimberly, ID 83341 92%458$99,100$411,400$259 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Rindge, NH 03461 91%2,506$102,679$415,400$281 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Strasburg, PA 17579 89%2,380$91,621$349,400$240 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Custer, WA 98240 89%290$110,116$619,700$340 pricier homes ($178K more) · smaller
Troy, VA 22974 88%2,337$112,344$368,900$271 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Hamilton, MI 49419 88%1,839$98,324$334,500$241 cheaper homes ($107K less)
La Salle, CO 80645 88%977$87,609$427,200$256 Very close on everything we compare
Hayden, CO 81639 88%851$110,404$443,600$354 smaller
Pinedale, WY 82941 88%668$91,429$345,700$265 cheaper homes ($96K less)
North Berwick, ME 03906 87%2,553$105,156$432,900$325 8 min longer commute
New Gloucester, ME 04260 87%2,558$108,797$357,100$257 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Rathdrum, ID 83858 87%361$95,380$507,600$341 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger
Sutter, CA 95982 87%390$96,224$417,000$361 smaller · older residents
Greene, ME 04236 86%2,560$98,093$270,000$257 cheaper homes ($172K less)
Rising Sun, MD 21911 86%2,394$104,673$359,000$220 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Watertown, MN 55388 86%1,420$99,375$356,900$191 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Rice, MN 56367 86%1,397$101,771$285,900$227 cheaper homes ($156K less)
Frenchtown, MT 59834 86%449$94,406$449,500$307 smaller
New Plymouth, ID 83655 86%311$84,542$371,300$261 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Cottonwood, CA 96022 86%305$89,338$366,700$261 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
West Olive, MI 49460 85%1,827$101,966$367,700$251 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Allenton, WI 53002 85%1,708$117,500$332,900$214 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller
Brooklyn, WI 53521 85%1,670$108,036$391,100$263 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Deerfield, WI 53531 85%1,680$105,000$353,300$219 cheaper homes ($88K 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.