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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 Elma, WA 98541

Elma: median income $78,816, home value $390,000, $282/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Winchendon, MA 01475 93%2,488$76,552$323,800$251 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Jewett City, CT 06351 93%2,523$82,976$294,400$255 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Rainier, OR 97048 91%68$77,171$368,600$235 smaller · less walkable
Sweet Home, OR 97386 91%183$64,669$331,600$262 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Pollock Pines, CA 95726 89%587$91,128$424,200$259 pricier homes ($34K more) · more single-family homes
Deer Park, WA 99006 89%284$72,200$419,600$260 pricier homes ($30K more)
Hayes, VA 23072 88%2,455$74,559$311,500$224 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Colfax, CA 95713 88%561$87,839$487,000$312 pricier homes ($97K more)
Clatskanie, OR 97016 88%66$79,375$336,000$232 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · less walkable
Estacada, OR 97023 88%129$76,762$562,600$280 pricier homes ($173K more)
Scappoose, OR 97056 88%89$94,209$469,800$268 pricier homes ($80K more)
Belfair, WA 98528 88%37$91,058$430,200$303 pricier homes ($40K more)
Taneytown, MD 21787 87%2,342$91,682$355,000$208 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Dallas, OR 97338 87%144$78,858$424,400$284 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Castle Rock, WA 98611 87%55$86,322$425,700$273 pricier homes ($36K more) · less walkable
Emmett, ID 83617 86%397$65,291$429,100$284 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Calimesa, CA 92320 86%958$87,181$446,300$283 pricier homes ($56K more)
Kelseyville, CA 95451 86%558$62,568$352,000$211 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Sheridan, OR 97378 86%132$79,746$372,600$277 7 min shorter commute
Shelton, WA 98584 86%20$78,610$393,000$299 larger
Denton, MD 21629 85%2,432$73,956$334,200$188 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more renters
Umatilla, FL 32784 85%2,552$72,201$272,800$192 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Pine City, MN 55063 85%1,446$74,667$253,200$205 cheaper homes ($137K less)
Sandwich, IL 60548 85%1,743$82,957$262,100$206 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Priest River, ID 83856 85%313$75,285$427,900$333 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · older residents

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.

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