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 Cresco, PA 18326

Cresco: median income $85,352, home value $285,300, $215/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Steep Falls, ME 04085 95%298$92,246$288,600$253 Very close on everything we compare
Sharpsburg, MD 21782 94%176$94,130$311,600$207 pricier homes ($26K more)
West Point, VA 23181 94%262$95,699$290,600$191 larger
Glenwood City, WI 54013 94%892$87,500$307,600$179 Very close on everything we compare
Chaplin, CT 06235 93%169$98,059$256,300$272 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Preston, MD 21655 93%170$90,385$289,200$221 5 min shorter commute
Clear Spring, MD 21722 93%172$88,232$312,500$195 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Stanardsville, VA 22973 93%260$76,964$284,000$218 larger
La Valle, WI 53941 93%775$82,537$261,100$187 Very close on everything we compare
Andover, NH 03216 92%238$88,311$358,800$194 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller
Centerburg, OH 43011 92%392$90,121$315,600$205 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Spring Valley, WI 54767 92%895$83,917$265,000$190 5 min shorter commute
South Range, WI 54874 92%908$89,063$218,900$201 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Howard Lake, MN 55349 92%983$99,444$321,300$192 pricier homes ($36K more)
Maple Lake, MN 55358 92%980$92,039$329,500$228 pricier homes ($44K more)
Delanson, NY 12053 91%124$91,991$266,600$230 Very close on everything we compare
Conowingo, MD 21918 91%112$84,587$324,800$230 pricier homes ($40K more)
Murrayville, GA 30564 91%660$76,188$333,000$207 pricier homes ($48K more)
Ashley, OH 43003 91%405$69,852$230,800$190 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Clayton, IN 46118 91%598$78,298$276,900$166 Very close on everything we compare
Almont, MI 48003 91%416$90,452$290,100$222 larger
Salem, WI 53168 91%668$97,035$300,200$243 larger
Blanchardville, WI 53516 91%756$85,324$306,600$157 smaller
Rio, WI 53960 91%729$84,911$282,100$160 Very close on everything we compare
Balsam Lake, WI 54810 91%909$69,917$271,600$263 Very close on everything we compare

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.