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 Canton, PA 17724

Canton: median income $55,817, home value $175,000, $122/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Horicon, WI 53032 94%611$56,085$189,000$165 Very close on everything we compare
Shinnston, WV 26431 92%238$61,023$149,900$120 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Edinburgh, IN 46124 92%504$64,466$184,700$140 larger
Sandusky, MI 48471 92%328$62,844$142,700$110 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Flora, IN 46929 91%508$56,940$186,500$129 smaller
Bowling Green, MO 63334 91%769$54,638$159,800$151 larger · newer homes
Whitehall, NY 12887 90%220$56,709$123,400$97 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Cannelton, IN 47520 90%582$50,882$162,200$99 smaller
Sullivan, IN 47882 90%582$57,637$154,800$119 larger
Essexville, MI 48732 90%379$57,903$169,600$133 larger
Homer, MI 49245 90%410$62,206$152,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Boscobel, WI 53805 90%713$60,870$164,100$131 newer homes
Stanley, WI 54768 90%743$54,964$208,700$158 pricier homes ($34K more) · newer homes
Barron, WI 54812 90%793$63,100$161,700$137 Very close on everything we compare
Pawhuska, OK 74056 90%1,094$47,311$131,000$106 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Sherburne, NY 13460 89%100$61,587$149,000$107 cheaper homes ($26K less) · newer homes
Vernon, NY 13476 89%120$62,798$204,000$148 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Pulaski, VA 24301 89%380$57,718$173,300$147 larger
Weston, WV 26452 89%262$51,695$128,300$111 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Uhrichsville, OH 44683 89%249$54,237$123,400$127 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Oakland City, IN 47660 89%600$57,472$146,300$107 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more single-family homes
Corunna, MI 48817 89%378$55,194$171,700$108 older residents
Gaylord, MN 55334 89%895$66,149$192,800$144 smaller
Wadena, MN 56482 89%963$64,439$169,800$133 larger
Vinita, OK 74301 89%1,037$52,211$144,100$129 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · newer 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.