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 Central City, PA 15926

Central City: median income $62,019, home value $106,400, $130/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Harrisville, NY 13648 93%334$60,735$118,200$126 Very close on everything we compare
Braymer, MO 64624 93%793$58,095$95,500$140 smaller
Glouster, OH 45732 92%177$60,605$110,000$124 larger
Cuba, IL 61427 92%598$65,750$105,900$115 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Regis Falls, NY 12980 91%385$60,938$106,500$110 smaller
Sidney Center, NY 13839 91%237$54,271$121,300$161 smaller
West Union, WV 26456 91%118$58,000$164,400— pricier homes ($58K more)
Cohocton, NY 14826 90%180$69,464$132,300$136 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Hale, MO 64643 90%769$56,688$113,000$141 smaller
Martville, NY 13111 89%247$59,063$107,400$147 smaller
Cassadaga, NY 14718 89%158$56,250$98,000$154 6 min shorter commute
Mannington, WV 26582 89%89$52,083$100,700$119 Very close on everything we compare
Dillonvale, OH 43917 89%104$59,280$93,900$169 older homes
Rayland, OH 43943 89%99$54,784$135,500$125 pricier homes ($29K more)
Albany, IN 47320 89%339$69,764$137,500$120 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Merrill, MI 48637 89%363$65,865$158,600$131 pricier homes ($52K more)
Elsie, MI 48831 89%353$63,299$161,300$149 pricier homes ($55K more)
Greenview, IL 62642 89%576$77,538$112,700$119 smaller
Troy, KS 66087 89%862$56,875$127,300$133 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Holgate, OH 43527 88%289$58,821$136,300$120 pricier homes ($30K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Akron, MI 48701 88%341$62,969$112,200$108 smaller
Aurora, MN 55705 88%840$56,208$124,100$129 older residents
Kearny, AZ 85137 88%1,834$57,946$134,000$112 pricier homes ($28K more)
Varysburg, NY 14167 87%185$67,132$150,000— pricier homes ($44K more)
Barton, MD 21521 87%40$64,194$107,500$119 smaller · 5 min shorter 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.