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 Jerusalem, OH 43747

Jerusalem: median income $77,115, home value $218,800, $87/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orlinda, TN 37141 94%378$76,250$237,000$117 Very close on everything we compare
Butlerville, IN 47223 90%240$90,505$204,400$92 Very close on everything we compare
Rosebud, MO 63091 90%561$80,000$215,700$78 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Melvin, MI 48454 89%248$62,639$188,500$75 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Mokane, MO 65059 89%582$76,765$246,200— pricier homes ($27K more)
Roachdale, IN 46172 88%302$85,912$177,100$106 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Vermontville, MI 49096 88%280$73,929$188,500$117 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Middletown, MO 63359 88%551$75,227$160,200— cheaper homes ($59K less)
Casar, NC 28020 87%301$59,978$188,700$115 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Blackstock, SC 29014 87%364$62,422$187,300$97 cheaper homes ($32K less) · newer homes
Pleasureville, KY 40057 87%239$77,866$226,700$132 larger
Bainbridge, IN 46105 87%304$87,736$248,500$142 pricier homes ($30K more)
New Virginia, IA 50210 87%668$87,813$324,600$108 pricier homes ($106K more)
Sheldon, WI 54766 87%626$66,050$150,500$103 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Eagle Bridge, NY 12057 86%455$68,306$205,700$132 Very close on everything we compare
Newport, NY 13416 86%391$85,128$185,500$80 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
New Boston, IL 61272 86%528$64,167$145,900$110 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Bland, MO 65014 86%575$61,938$155,800$82 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Elkland, MO 65644 86%664$71,527$249,100$148 pricier homes ($30K more)
Thompsontown, PA 17094 85%211$66,375$196,100$123 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Moores Hill, IN 47032 85%218$66,950$245,800$120 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Brown City, MI 48416 85%253$66,474$222,000$116 larger
Grove City, MN 56243 85%782$71,528$178,900$126 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Flat Rock, IL 62427 85%358$81,250$160,700— cheaper homes ($58K less)
Murrayville, IL 62668 85%486$70,577$139,800$109 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 6 min shorter commute

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.