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 Yorktown, VA 23693

Yorktown: median income $124,433, home value $488,400, $225/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waunakee, WI 53597 97%803$117,000$493,200$243 Very close on everything we compare
Knoxville, TN 37932 94%435$119,703$463,100$223 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80919 94%1,544$119,518$605,900$214 pricier homes ($118K more)
Sussex, WI 53089 93%747$120,875$418,900$248 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Rochester, MN 55902 93%964$120,611$454,800$213 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Kennett Square, PA 19348 92%193$123,526$543,100$231 pricier homes ($55K more) · older homes
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 92%680$119,250$481,600$204 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40245 92%500$122,948$445,300$182 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Akron, OH 44321 92%391$119,178$363,700$185 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Hartland, WI 53029 92%752$108,152$478,700$250 Very close on everything we compare
Cottage Grove, WI 53527 92%788$133,883$444,700$238 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Oregon, WI 53575 92%792$107,885$432,800$230 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Chanhassen, MN 55317 92%1,036$140,385$539,000$227 pricier homes ($51K more)
Birmingham, AL 35244 91%641$113,450$412,000$176 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Hudson, WI 54016 91%1,004$113,085$452,000$224 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55127 91%1,023$117,917$433,200$223 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Billings, MT 59106 91%1,757$125,833$496,500$246 newer homes
Hillsborough, NC 27278 90%164$105,887$414,100$235 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Mason, OH 45040 90%453$133,240$440,000$209 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077 90%1,016$111,967$540,900$207 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 89%315$124,189$420,000$231 cheaper homes ($68K less) · 5 min longer commute
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 89%216$113,720$372,900$192 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger
Longwood, FL 32779 89%648$121,826$480,200$249 Very close on everything we compare
Lutz, FL 33558 89%713$116,090$520,500$239 pricier homes ($32K more) · 8 min longer commute
Rochester, MI 48309 89%523$121,007$424,600$196 cheaper homes ($64K less) · older 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.