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 Rutherford, TN 38369

Rutherford: median income $50,417, home value $105,300, $107/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Island Falls, ME 04747 95%1,271$56,795$120,200$111 Very close on everything we compare
Farmersburg, IN 47850 95%231$54,050$104,400$83 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsfield, PA 16340 93%647$57,446$127,300$115 Very close on everything we compare
Tuckerman, AR 72473 93%127$47,266$98,700$106 more renters
Ringling, OK 73456 93%505$50,813$113,200$108 younger residents
Brockport, PA 15823 92%658$51,125$146,100— pricier homes ($41K more)
Grampian, PA 16838 92%653$57,917$118,400— Very close on everything we compare
New Haven, WV 25265 92%432$51,827$107,700$107 older homes
Walhalla, ND 58282 92%987$52,083$107,300$121 Very close on everything we compare
Stewardson, IL 62463 92%218$58,214$138,500— pricier homes ($33K more)
Kaleva, MI 49645 91%590$56,300$145,200$122 pricier homes ($40K more)
Payson, IL 62360 91%283$54,706$147,500$111 pricier homes ($42K more)
Greenup, IL 62428 91%222$53,333$97,900$105 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Ridgeway, MO 64481 91%400$55,341$120,200— Very close on everything we compare
Golden City, MO 64748 91%296$50,865$120,600$113 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Cobb, OK 73038 91%535$57,500$127,100$104 Very close on everything we compare
Walters, OK 73572 91%540$57,065$123,500$92 larger
Allen, OK 74825 91%427$57,321$111,400$96 younger residents
Stinnett, TX 79083 91%697$48,611$105,400$117 younger residents
Saint Regis Falls, NY 12980 90%960$60,938$106,500$110 5 min longer commute
Cherokee, AL 35616 90%111$48,720$100,500$106 larger
Coffee Springs, AL 36318 90%387$49,826$122,400$105 Very close on everything we compare
Sedalia, KY 42079 90%38$59,375$119,100$122 Very close on everything we compare
Kinde, MI 48445 90%626$51,645$121,600— 5 min shorter commute
Mio, MI 48647 90%642$47,281$111,800$121 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.