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 Phoenix, OR 97535

Phoenix: median income $66,052, home value $418,400, $264/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Shasta, CA 96067 90%71$65,000$415,400$247 larger · older homes
Long Beach, WA 98631 88%290$71,705$409,400$335 older homes
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 86%2,494$63,464$346,700$288 cheaper homes ($72K less) · less walkable
Lakeside, AZ 85929 86%892$62,752$306,900$290 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · less walkable
Osage Beach, MO 65065 84%1,608$60,785$371,600$263 cheaper homes ($47K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Boulder City, NV 89005 83%610$74,375$435,600$289 larger · older homes
Diamond Springs, CA 95619 83%270$66,429$373,900$321 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older homes
North Conway, NH 03860 82%2,565$71,759$401,500$281 less walkable · older homes
Beaufort, NC 28516 82%2,519$66,057$315,400$270 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · less walkable
Angels Camp, CA 95222 82%314$70,930$515,100$304 pricier homes ($97K more) · more single-family homes
Port Hadlock, WA 98339 82%398$77,778$409,800$350 younger residents · older homes
Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064 81%2,610$59,887$361,700$370 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Panama City Beach, FL 32413 81%2,195$80,039$441,300$334 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Port Saint Joe, FL 32456 81%2,244$64,681$378,500$285 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Morrisville, VT 05661 80%2,485$67,052$304,700$264 cheaper homes ($114K less) · younger residents · older homes
Rio Grande, NJ 08242 80%2,490$93,250$318,300$221 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($100K less)
Cape Charles, VA 23310 80%2,480$62,500$377,300$318 cheaper homes ($41K less) · less walkable · older homes
Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 80%2,434$71,447$305,700$235 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Bokeelia, FL 33922 80%2,526$71,164$355,800$269 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 7 min longer commute · less walkable
Minocqua, WI 54548 80%1,648$69,569$336,400$288 cheaper homes ($82K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Grand Junction, CO 81506 80%778$78,651$448,300$263 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Murphys, CA 95247 80%312$76,333$537,400$306 pricier homes ($119K more) · more single-family homes
Paradise, CA 95969 80%185$69,067$455,500$287 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Seabrook, NH 03874 79%2,601$82,995$446,100$351 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · less walkable
Ludlow, VT 05149 79%2,502$64,191$365,300$300 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · less walkable

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.