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.

Reset

Towns most like Point Roberts, WA 98281

Point Roberts: median income $78,125, home value $483,900, $270/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Georgetown, ME 04548 94%2,512$84,250$427,200$321 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Deltaville, VA 23043 93%2,435$70,625$420,600$315 cheaper homes ($63K less)
White Stone, VA 22578 90%2,430$80,783$441,600$252 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Wayne, ME 04284 89%2,481$93,194$362,800$269 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Hancock, NH 03449 87%2,440$92,708$432,200$234 cheaper homes ($52K less) · younger residents
Swanton, MD 21561 87%2,232$73,858$328,700$295 cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger
Woodstock Valley, CT 06282 86%2,470$91,780$353,400$312 cheaper homes ($131K less)
Rhododendron, OR 97049 86%257$92,056$474,200$284 6 min longer commute
Ashfield, MA 01330 85%2,417$83,493$391,700$273 cheaper homes ($92K less) · less walkable · older homes
Freedom, NH 03836 85%2,454$66,136$389,000$344 cheaper homes ($95K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Doswell, VA 23047 85%2,372$81,136$396,300$226 cheaper homes ($88K less) · less walkable
Lake Lure, NC 28746 85%2,257$70,469$470,700$313 larger
Dauphin Island, AL 36528 85%2,235$67,206$432,200$312 cheaper homes ($52K less) · newer homes
Crosslake, MN 56442 85%1,344$79,896$479,800$349 larger
Sheridan, MT 59749 85%566$80,238$382,400$332 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Saluda, NC 28773 84%2,259$70,703$413,700$319 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Hazelhurst, WI 54531 84%1,561$84,286$344,900$286 cheaper homes ($139K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Surry, ME 04684 83%2,546$74,508$296,300$251 cheaper homes ($188K less) · younger residents
Magnolia Springs, AL 36555 83%2,242$86,705$435,200$241 cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents
Cascade, CO 80809 83%1,133$93,750$480,600$344 older homes
Pinetop, AZ 85935 83%1,228$73,333$437,200$326 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Twain Harte, CA 95383 83%769$86,970$461,100$265 larger · younger residents
Potter Valley, CA 95469 83%663$82,683$529,200$326 pricier homes ($45K more) · younger residents
Pawlet, VT 05761 82%2,375$68,125$324,300$271 cheaper homes ($160K less) · younger residents
Cobb, CA 95426 82%703$84,000$311,900$244 cheaper homes ($172K 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.