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 Cecil, PA 15321

Cecil: median income $117,656, home value $348,700, $198/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Holderness, NH 03245 81%499$107,863$363,100$273 older residents
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750 81%468$107,917$449,300$242 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger
Gambier, OH 43022 81%116$94,712$315,900$209 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · younger residents
Montague, MA 01351 79%425$98,229$346,900$247 older residents
Lansing, NY 14882 79%244$91,960$318,700$214 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Kechi, KS 67067 79%932$108,352$262,600$150 cheaper homes ($86K less) · newer homes
Genesee, ID 83832 79%1,875$91,250$352,800$219 lower income ($26K less) · older residents
Gales Ferry, CT 06335 78%431$118,116$322,400$265 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older residents
Huxley, IA 50124 78%706$114,904$305,200$258 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · older residents
Le Claire, IA 52753 78%538$103,813$328,700$215 larger · older residents
Kindred, ND 58051 78%947$107,396$331,100$241 older residents · more homeowners
Malcolm, NE 68402 78%874$123,000$449,000$241 pricier homes ($100K more) · older residents
Plainfield, NH 03781 77%464$109,659$426,400$270 pricier homes ($78K more) · older residents
Madbury, NH 03823 77%515$148,365$476,900$295 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($128K more) · older residents
Valparaiso, FL 32580 76%765$91,645$394,700$257 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Granger, IA 50109 76%717$118,669$370,100$251 larger · older residents · newer homes
Mount Vernon, IA 52314 76%595$109,244$265,100$177 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger · older residents
Wilson, TX 79381 76%1,281$97,625$228,300$179 cheaper homes ($120K less) · more single-family homes
Henniker, NH 03242 75%474$95,206$356,700$258 larger
Burnt Hills, NY 12027 75%371$120,000$344,100$276 larger · older residents · older homes
Cross Plains, WI 53528 75%524$106,823$436,100$232 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · older residents
Wrightstown, WI 54180 75%493$94,375$286,200$220 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · older residents
Bradford, RI 02808 74%447$106,681$388,300$328 pricier homes ($40K more) · older residents
Fairfax, VT 05454 74%473$128,212$372,400$286 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Spring Arbor, MI 49283 74%261$108,464$218,400$172 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger

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.