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 Portville, NY 14770

Portville: median income $56,910, home value $108,500, $141/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Laverne, OK 73848 93%1,205$57,619$124,200— smaller
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456 92%160$58,828$128,700$119 Very close on everything we compare
Rockwood, PA 15557 91%151$61,042$135,500$142 pricier homes ($27K more)
Shippenville, PA 16254 91%78$56,563$160,900$138 pricier homes ($52K more)
Crestline, OH 44827 91%244$56,757$125,900$148 larger
Rockwell City, IA 50579 91%833$61,108$126,000$118 Very close on everything we compare
Troy, KS 66087 91%890$56,875$127,300$133 5 min longer commute
Stoystown, PA 15563 90%138$62,411$139,600$128 pricier homes ($31K more)
Farmington, IA 52626 90%702$59,342$105,600$160 smaller
Stockton, IL 61085 90%598$59,798$131,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
Martinsville, IL 62442 90%533$70,284$87,200— Very close on everything we compare
Stewardson, IL 62463 90%572$58,214$138,500— pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Novinger, MO 63559 90%757$60,481$132,500$143 smaller
Blue Rapids, KS 66411 90%968$57,361$85,900— smaller
Anson, TX 79501 90%1,341$55,430$89,200$117 Very close on everything we compare
Johnstown, PA 15909 89%115$61,016$110,200$107 larger
Curwensville, PA 16833 89%74$65,809$141,100$144 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Rutherford, TN 38369 89%701$50,417$105,300$107 smaller
Edgerton, OH 43517 89%333$58,578$136,500$134 pricier homes ($28K more)
La Fontaine, IN 46940 89%393$64,089$128,100$127 Very close on everything we compare
Eaton, IN 47338 89%383$68,239$111,100$151 Very close on everything we compare
Selma, IN 47383 89%383$61,250$135,400$163 pricier homes ($27K more)
French Lick, IN 47432 89%499$65,723$111,400$150 larger
Avon, IL 61415 89%635$68,036$113,300$147 smaller
Corsica, PA 15829 88%74$64,167$140,700$123 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller

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.