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 Silverlake, WA 98645

Silverlake: median income $101,429, home value $509,500, $220/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hermosa, SD 57744 93%967$106,250$386,800$270 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Cedar, MI 49621 91%1,773$95,446$396,600$278 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Merrimac, WI 53561 91%1,624$91,103$427,600$251 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Center City, MN 55012 91%1,434$101,607$386,600$226 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Salisbury, NH 03268 90%2,465$111,818$363,200$268 cheaper homes ($146K less) · smaller
Harbeson, DE 19951 90%2,441$95,546$472,400$261 cheaper homes ($37K less) · newer homes
Leonard, MI 48367 90%1,944$110,405$397,900$192 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger
Dunbarton, NH 03046 89%2,477$124,348$484,100$272 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Columbia, VA 23038 89%2,332$87,083$434,400$190 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · older residents
Zirconia, NC 28790 89%2,216$97,042$455,000$259 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Waleska, GA 30183 89%2,151$94,567$451,100$235 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Alexandria, OH 43001 89%2,044$93,804$387,400$216 cheaper homes ($122K less)
Custer, WI 54423 89%1,609$113,690$329,100$239 cheaper homes ($180K less)
Hunt, TX 78024 89%1,683$105,381$500,000$288 smaller
Bowdoinham, ME 04008 88%2,532$108,479$405,500$330 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Galena, MD 21635 88%2,388$101,618$402,000$258 cheaper homes ($108K less) · more renters
Rockville, VA 23146 88%2,354$119,583$464,400$258 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Goode, VA 24556 88%2,285$87,250$399,000$204 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Brooks, GA 30205 88%2,195$105,700$491,800$209 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Oregonia, OH 45054 88%1,996$99,583$296,200$226 cheaper homes ($213K less)
Eagle, WI 53119 88%1,691$117,759$416,500$292 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Springville, CA 93265 88%733$99,350$467,700$223 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · younger residents
Gilmanton Iron Works, NH 03837 87%2,483$119,712$409,600$286 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller
Clermont, GA 30527 87%2,182$103,281$356,000$185 cheaper homes ($154K less) · larger
Helenville, WI 53137 87%1,678$116,550$366,200$251 cheaper homes ($143K 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.