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 Foster, KY 41043

Foster: median income $87,695, home value $211,800, $160/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grasston, MN 55030 93%669$81,563$195,800$209 Very close on everything we compare
Elkland, MO 65644 93%490$71,527$249,100$148 pricier homes ($37K more)
Williams, IN 47470 92%133$90,750$189,100$145 Very close on everything we compare
Mc David, FL 32568 91%576$79,279$242,300$156 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Huntsburg, OH 44046 91%252$80,625$222,200$185 Very close on everything we compare
Ogilvie, MN 56358 91%681$83,594$260,700$211 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Axtell, TX 76624 91%873$79,625$188,300$153 larger
Indian Mound, TN 37079 90%248$86,804$246,200$193 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · newer homes
Clarksburg, OH 43115 90%74$94,265$156,700$121 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Bainbridge, IN 46105 90%158$87,736$248,500$142 pricier homes ($37K more)
Dittmer, MO 63023 90%354$79,583$212,800$154 larger
Wanette, OK 74878 90%757$78,085$218,100$214 Very close on everything we compare
Spring Run, PA 17262 89%358$87,708$221,800$169 smaller · older residents
Warfordsburg, PA 17267 89%326$77,788$251,000$160 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Carlton, GA 30627 89%335$75,000$207,300$179 Very close on everything we compare
Wheeler, WI 54772 89%590$88,750$182,100$191 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Cartersville, VA 23027 88%335$95,407$243,200$224 pricier homes ($31K more)
Mc Kenney, VA 23872 88%370$75,913$215,200$213 larger
Thornton, WV 26440 88%231$92,824$216,800— smaller
Paragon, IN 46166 88%137$86,042$157,500$144 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · newer homes
Elizabeth, IN 47117 88%107$86,853$221,700$179 larger · older residents
Perrinton, MI 48871 88%306$84,803$230,600$169 Very close on everything we compare
Trufant, MI 49347 88%322$91,477$177,100$223 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Bellevue, TX 76228 88%857$69,250$171,200$176 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Buckfield, ME 04220 87%808$79,750$222,000$188 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.