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 Shoemakersville, PA 19555

Shoemakersville: median income $89,583, home value $239,900, $190/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fox Lake, WI 53933 96%697$83,578$261,000$205 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton, WI 53525 95%682$79,323$248,100$189 Very close on everything we compare
Corinth, NY 12822 94%219$83,349$189,400$184 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Juneau, WI 53039 94%683$79,103$222,800$195 Very close on everything we compare
Windham, CT 06280 93%215$76,577$250,500$213 Very close on everything we compare
Hebron, OH 43025 92%347$87,381$287,700$190 pricier homes ($48K more)
Loudonville, OH 44842 91%329$72,737$206,700$156 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Versailles, OH 45380 91%450$84,135$235,300$139 larger
Missouri Valley, IA 51555 91%1,039$85,273$188,700$145 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Walcott, IA 52773 91%772$85,523$214,400$178 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Random Lake, WI 53075 91%652$93,750$297,100$212 pricier homes ($57K more)
Bonduel, WI 54107 91%698$79,815$210,700$160 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Canton, SD 57013 91%1,076$76,458$226,000$131 Very close on everything we compare
North Collins, NY 14111 90%210$90,700$201,700$164 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Chilton, WI 53014 90%670$79,865$210,800$230 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Brodhead, WI 53520 90%708$75,205$222,600$181 larger
Jefferson, WI 53549 90%684$80,101$262,200$207 larger
Le Center, MN 56057 90%943$91,250$248,300$161 younger residents
Waterville, MN 56096 90%933$87,679$278,000$160 pricier homes ($38K more)
Newport, NH 03773 89%277$81,232$239,300$213 larger
Derby, NY 14047 89%218$78,816$194,200$194 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Covington, OH 45318 89%443$73,867$199,400$153 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Tipton, IA 52772 89%794$81,267$225,700$152 Very close on everything we compare
Mineral Point, WI 53565 89%750$84,589$269,800$183 pricier homes ($30K more)
Two Harbors, MN 55616 89%903$76,127$259,200$170 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.