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 Hagaman, NY 12086

Hagaman: median income $78,155, home value $230,800, $285/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mead, NE 68041 95%1,148$74,000$251,300— smaller
Adell, WI 53001 92%698$92,294$243,100$229 Very close on everything we compare
Nashua, MT 59248 92%1,586$89,821$216,000— smaller
Coal Center, PA 15423 91%356$77,857$185,900$215 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Hinsdale, MA 01235 90%66$79,327$267,500$280 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · newer homes
Kingsley, IA 51028 90%1,103$78,000$219,600$202 younger residents
Brownsville, WI 53006 90%723$88,625$247,600$232 Very close on everything we compare
Valders, WI 54245 90%691$85,302$226,700$227 newer homes
Tilden, NE 68781 90%1,203$67,212$171,700— cheaper homes ($59K less)
New Alexandria, PA 15670 89%325$79,345$195,400$301 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · newer homes
New Knoxville, OH 45871 89%550$87,500$211,700$204 Very close on everything we compare
Ellsworth, MI 49729 89%571$77,870$243,200$244 newer homes
Burnett, WI 53922 89%733$91,500$287,800$253 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Maribel, WI 54227 89%688$87,500$247,000$278 newer homes
Buffalo Lake, MN 55314 89%1,023$79,500$179,200$243 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 6 min longer commute
Good Thunder, MN 56037 89%998$78,750$258,400$218 pricier homes ($28K more) · 5 min longer commute
New Ross, IN 47968 88%683$83,242$213,400$230 younger residents
Schleswig, IA 51461 88%1,082$73,768$183,100— cheaper homes ($48K less) · younger residents
Wall Lake, IA 51466 88%1,063$71,579$179,600$245 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · newer homes
Alma, NE 68920 88%1,313$80,938$166,700— cheaper homes ($64K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Wilbur, WA 99185 88%2,158$73,094$248,100$231 Very close on everything we compare
Smithville, OH 44677 87%422$75,435$230,600$247 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Three Oaks, MI 49128 87%640$67,398$258,300$192 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Circle, MT 59215 87%1,551$86,000$216,000— smaller · older residents
Rices Landing, PA 15357 86%367$89,453$157,800$276 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 6 min longer commute

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.