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 Elkland, PA 16920

Elkland: median income $60,000, home value $157,100, $73/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clarence, IA 52216 87%706$67,857$191,900$102 pricier homes ($35K more)
Woodhull, IL 61490 87%672$65,625$158,000$68 smaller · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Dolgeville, NY 13329 86%151$60,104$121,700$101 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older residents
Jewett, OH 43986 86%222$54,375$150,000$99 Very close on everything we compare
Strawberry Point, IA 52076 85%727$72,857$150,700$95 Very close on everything we compare
North English, IA 52316 85%761$60,768$150,600$94 more single-family homes
Wenona, IL 61377 85%610$57,321$139,500$86 8 min shorter commute
Crossville, IL 62827 85%626$52,550$100,000— cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Ovid, NY 14521 84%55$67,198$163,700$112 Very close on everything we compare
Greene, IA 50636 84%791$70,066$154,700$86 more single-family homes
Le Roy, MN 55951 84%777$61,131$168,800$115 Very close on everything we compare
Spring Grove, MN 55974 84%734$59,205$186,300$104 pricier homes ($29K more) · more single-family homes
Nunda, NY 14517 83%52$56,088$150,000$112 younger residents
Belmont, NY 14813 83%40$63,750$94,300$71 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Cameron, WV 26033 83%226$55,972$153,600— older residents · newer homes
Chester, WV 26034 83%194$56,556$138,400$109 larger
Dayton, IA 50530 83%857$73,250$167,900— smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Villisca, IA 50864 83%916$69,861$109,900$67 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Toulon, IL 61483 83%651$63,558$109,100$110 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more single-family homes
Henry, IL 61537 83%626$67,404$118,200$81 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Mc Graw, NY 13101 82%76$63,587$143,700$112 7 min shorter commute
Badin, NC 28009 82%479$53,145$160,200$117 6 min shorter commute
Olin, IA 52320 82%709$62,222$131,300$109 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents
Brighton, IA 52540 82%752$55,000$115,300$90 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Mount Carroll, IL 61053 82%650$62,250$106,700$82 cheaper homes ($50K less) · more single-family homes

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.