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 Union Springs, NY 13160

Union Springs: median income $86,029, home value $185,600, $168/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Knoxville, OH 45871 96%426$87,500$211,700$204 pricier homes ($26K more)
Panhandle, TX 79068 93%1,417$86,264$165,300$120 Very close on everything we compare
Durant, IA 52747 92%732$82,313$198,300$178 5 min longer commute
Herminie, PA 15637 91%238$70,461$220,600$159 pricier homes ($35K more)
Bluffton, OH 45817 91%395$76,848$210,100$173 larger
New Bremen, OH 45869 91%431$88,277$249,700$183 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Albany, TX 76430 91%1,414$77,102$202,400$145 newer homes
Enon, OH 45323 90%429$80,781$187,900$168 larger
New Sharon, IA 50207 90%824$76,053$156,300$191 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Missouri Valley, IA 51555 90%985$85,273$188,700$145 larger · 5 min longer commute
Alcester, SD 57001 90%1,008$69,531$177,400$166 smaller
Hillsboro, ND 58045 90%1,039$86,484$211,800$163 pricier homes ($26K more) · newer homes
Albion, NE 68620 90%1,090$83,450$231,700$169 pricier homes ($46K more)
Woodville, OH 43469 89%356$86,410$205,500$161 6 min longer commute
Colfax, IA 50054 89%850$89,940$211,500$143 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents
Sloan, IA 51055 89%994$72,143$218,300$156 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Glidden, IA 51443 89%920$78,906$191,000$139 Very close on everything we compare
Preston, IA 52069 89%701$75,313$169,500$155 Very close on everything we compare
Walcott, IA 52773 89%723$85,523$214,400$178 pricier homes ($29K more)
Mineral Point, WI 53565 89%683$84,589$269,800$183 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger
Northwood, ND 58267 89%1,069$88,015$217,800$161 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · younger residents
Oglesby, IL 61348 89%643$76,369$146,800$143 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Ponca, NE 68770 89%1,015$71,607$199,400$143 smaller
Stanton, NE 68779 89%1,048$78,594$203,300$106 Very close on everything we compare
Kingsley, IA 51028 88%978$78,000$219,600$202 pricier homes ($34K more)

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.