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 Halfway, OR 97834

Halfway: median income $43,889, home value $366,300, 10-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Garberville, CA 95542 80%476$46,104$395,500$212 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Willow Creek, CA 95573 78%428$47,258$388,100$223 older residents · newer homes
Conyngham, PA 18219 76%2,072$52,566$236,200— cheaper homes ($130K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
South Bend, WA 98586 75%345$50,893$261,000$213 cheaper homes ($105K less) · 10 min longer commute
Wrangell, AK 99929 75%1,035$64,375$296,800$198 cheaper homes ($70K less) · newer homes
Marfa, TX 79843 74%1,232$45,263$289,300$1,041 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · more homeowners
Clark Fork, ID 83811 74%229$44,930$297,700$403 cheaper homes ($69K less) · younger residents · more renters
Holly, CO 81047 72%907$43,050$185,000$44 cheaper homes ($181K less) · 5 min longer commute
Challis, ID 83226 72%146$36,458$358,700$146 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Lone Pine, CA 93545 72%577$43,529$217,100$220 cheaper homes ($149K less) · more renters
Apalachicola, FL 32320 71%2,033$46,713$241,500$279 cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Deadwood, SD 57732 71%658$43,636$232,300$241 cheaper homes ($134K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Nucla, CO 81424 71%636$39,960$206,000— cheaper homes ($160K less) · older residents
Springerville, AZ 85938 71%848$49,684$212,300$134 cheaper homes ($154K less) · larger · younger residents
Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 70%2,364$59,205$428,500$456 pricier homes ($62K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Walden, CO 80480 69%620$49,167$230,700$372 cheaper homes ($136K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Douglas City, CA 96024 69%416$43,750$350,000$173 younger residents · 10 min shorter commute · newer homes
Junction City, CA 96048 69%416$50,521$284,000$159 cheaper homes ($82K less) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Loyalton, CA 96118 69%395$54,167$243,800$229 cheaper homes ($123K less) · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Thomaston, ME 04861 68%2,328$56,435$271,700$237 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · older residents
South Fallsburg, NY 12779 68%2,122$47,688$287,200$216 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · younger residents
Salmon, ID 83467 68%159$53,917$316,700$265 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · more homeowners
Wallace, ID 83873 68%188$45,852$278,500$170 cheaper homes ($88K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Libby, MT 59923 67%252$44,980$272,000$253 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger
Burney, CA 96013 67%359$53,688$227,500$175 cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger

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.