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 Leavenworth, WA 98826

Leavenworth: median income $87,646, home value $720,000, $411/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mashpee, MA 02649 90%2,459$95,299$562,200$420 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger
Wolfeboro, NH 03894 88%2,367$94,349$548,600$347 cheaper homes ($171K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Saint Michaels, MD 21663 88%2,287$89,775$650,500$438 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Meredith, NH 03253 87%2,352$84,719$482,700$354 cheaper homes ($237K less) · older homes
Bigfork, MT 59911 87%307$83,019$666,400$456 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more homeowners
Galveston, TX 77554 87%1,869$86,490$466,800$340 cheaper homes ($253K less)
Sisters, OR 97759 87%233$102,734$777,700$425 pricier homes ($58K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Kennebunkport, ME 04046 86%2,405$102,529$586,100$434 cheaper homes ($134K less) · younger residents
East Quogue, NY 11942 85%2,387$93,710$844,100$675 pricier homes ($124K more)
Grand Lake, CO 80447 85%895$96,000$632,400$444 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller
Jacksonville, OR 97530 85%394$89,239$617,400$313 cheaper homes ($103K less) · younger residents
Bend, OR 97707 85%266$85,272$647,600$432 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more homeowners
Key Largo, FL 33037 84%2,682$86,533$683,000$582 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Auburn, CA 95602 84%599$97,466$688,500$339 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Palisade, CO 81526 83%853$87,500$501,800$337 cheaper homes ($218K less)
Santa Fe, NM 87506 83%1,110$96,511$611,800$464 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · more homeowners
Carson City, NV 89703 83%587$85,230$626,500$330 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Great Barrington, MA 01230 82%2,308$86,694$527,300$378 cheaper homes ($193K less) · older homes
Harwich, MA 02645 82%2,476$104,401$648,200$483 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more homeowners
South Yarmouth, MA 02664 82%2,470$82,125$551,400$474 cheaper homes ($169K less) · older homes
Kennebunk, ME 04043 82%2,402$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($232K less) · larger
Rhinebeck, NY 12572 82%2,292$94,859$483,100$472 cheaper homes ($237K less) · older homes
Kure Beach, NC 28449 82%2,390$107,563$759,700$410 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Nevada City, CA 95959 82%577$86,524$627,100$324 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 81%2,450$87,773$497,600$374 cheaper homes ($222K less) · larger · older homes

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.