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 Vader, WA 98593

Vader: median income $84,244, home value $343,800, $273/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mc Clellanville, SC 29458 93%2,447$86,431$370,900$337 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Mc Dade, TX 78650 93%1,769$85,170$300,300— cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Alberton, MT 59820 92%403$69,091$367,400$285 Very close on everything we compare
Singers Glen, VA 22850 91%2,277$91,583$311,700$237 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Moncure, NC 27559 91%2,371$74,490$385,000$233 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Buckhead, GA 30625 91%2,249$88,534$389,100$192 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Idaho City, ID 83631 91%394$80,714$409,800$264 pricier homes ($66K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Deary, ID 83823 91%307$78,345$409,300$225 pricier homes ($66K more)
Bentonville, VA 22610 90%2,300$81,500$337,700$246 more single-family homes
Osteen, FL 32764 90%2,550$86,224$350,700$220 larger · older residents
Kendrick, ID 83537 90%302$71,917$327,300$197 Very close on everything we compare
Garden Valley, CA 95633 90%531$74,258$434,200$304 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger
Mapleville, RI 02839 89%2,517$97,292$338,000$197 Very close on everything we compare
Wales, MA 01081 88%2,487$86,979$296,800$324 cheaper homes ($47K less) · younger residents
Greenfield, NH 03047 88%2,477$103,603$350,300$298 Very close on everything we compare
Effingham, NH 03882 88%2,498$76,607$322,700$294 7 min shorter commute
Union, NH 03887 88%2,500$91,875$292,800$251 cheaper homes ($51K less) · younger residents
Limington, ME 04049 88%2,511$84,675$295,600$257 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Pleasant Mount, PA 18453 88%2,347$85,110$325,000$260 7 min shorter commute
Zumbro Falls, MN 55991 88%1,482$82,292$350,000$270 8 min shorter commute
Bates City, MO 64011 88%1,542$82,981$377,100$200 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Parker, KS 66072 88%1,523$101,875$296,800$235 cheaper homes ($47K less) · younger residents
Richards, TX 77873 88%1,811$80,938$285,000$198 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Grafton, NH 03240 87%2,456$81,563$267,300$223 cheaper homes ($77K less) · younger residents
Naples, ME 04055 87%2,508$78,188$340,100$334 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.