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 Loon Lake, WA 99148

Loon Lake: median income $67,431, home value $429,900, $336/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Graford, TX 76449 94%1,449$72,813$398,700$299 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Moncure, NC 27559 92%2,134$74,490$385,000$233 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Hampshire, TN 38461 91%1,766$66,406$418,300$256 smaller
Townville, SC 29689 90%2,008$72,951$341,600$264 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Casco, ME 04015 89%2,242$69,313$355,500$316 cheaper homes ($74K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Alberton, MT 59820 89%165$69,091$367,400$285 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · younger residents
Naples, ME 04055 88%2,239$78,188$340,100$334 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Horseshoe Bend, ID 83629 88%295$72,500$398,000$296 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · older residents
Monroe, OR 97456 88%376$71,111$407,700$327 Very close on everything we compare
Hollywood, SC 29449 87%2,204$56,929$409,500$296 larger
Mc Clellanville, SC 29458 87%2,221$86,431$370,900$337 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Townsend, MT 59644 87%312$68,811$361,500$300 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Norwood, CO 81423 87%833$62,125$425,000$292 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Thayne, WY 83127 86%478$87,743$482,700$325 pricier homes ($53K more)
Idaho City, ID 83631 86%304$80,714$409,800$264 younger residents
Sugar Grove, NC 28679 85%1,983$65,246$287,100$291 cheaper homes ($143K less)
Priest River, ID 83856 85%34$75,285$427,900$333 larger
Garden Valley, CA 95633 85%657$74,258$434,200$304 younger residents
Comfort, TX 78013 84%1,596$82,492$416,300$224 larger
Spirit Lake, ID 83869 84%36$67,099$466,000$368 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · younger residents
Cove, OR 97824 84%191$80,263$413,700$267 8 min shorter commute
Bridgton, ME 04009 83%2,231$78,021$317,100$325 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger · more walkable
Huddleston, VA 24104 83%2,056$65,738$339,300$308 cheaper homes ($91K less) · older residents
Fleetwood, NC 28626 83%1,998$73,675$291,900$292 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Bates City, MO 64011 83%1,328$82,981$377,100$200 cheaper homes ($53K 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.