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 Ney, OH 43549

Ney: median income $84,189, home value $180,300, $121/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sweetser, IN 46987 92%86$80,893$152,500— cheaper homes ($28K less) · more renters
Winthrop, IA 50682 92%378$89,375$183,800$142 Very close on everything we compare
Donnellson, IA 52625 92%371$80,078$205,300$125 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Bloomington, WI 53804 92%343$82,917$165,800$114 Very close on everything we compare
Milladore, WI 54454 92%351$82,589$170,200$129 Very close on everything we compare
Saranac, NY 12981 91%590$76,450$182,300$166 larger
Tornado, WV 25202 91%254$96,328$198,600$122 Very close on everything we compare
Hoagland, IN 46745 91%39$89,643$242,400$143 pricier homes ($62K more)
Swayzee, IN 46986 91%90$79,438$162,600$112 older residents
Lebo, KS 66856 91%632$75,667$169,900$137 Very close on everything we compare
Elwell, MI 48832 90%141$73,393$163,700$103 Very close on everything we compare
Shell Rock, IA 50670 90%424$84,679$171,500$134 larger · more walkable
Adrian, MN 56110 90%601$77,875$176,400$103 Very close on everything we compare
Hershey, NE 69143 90%856$90,625$197,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Pavilion, NY 14525 89%349$77,102$154,800$144 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Amboy, IN 46911 89%91$95,122$209,300$135 pricier homes ($29K more)
Dunkerton, IA 50626 89%401$84,306$209,400$91 pricier homes ($29K more)
Fort Atkinson, IA 52144 89%397$84,609$217,500$101 pricier homes ($37K more) · older homes
Newhall, IA 52315 89%387$77,656$196,100$127 Very close on everything we compare
Danville, IA 52623 89%355$90,714$194,000$111 larger
Livingston, WI 53554 89%321$74,063$175,000$124 Very close on everything we compare
Riverton, KS 66770 89%620$90,521$149,100$113 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Cedar Bluffs, NE 68015 89%624$85,357$176,600$119 older homes
Durhamville, NY 13054 88%469$94,100$227,500$96 pricier homes ($47K more)
Clayville, NY 13322 88%487$91,369$204,800$141 more apartments and townhomes

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.