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 Continental, OH 45831

Continental: median income $71,473, home value $168,000, $93/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Burt, MI 48417 94%148$72,422$166,400$111 Very close on everything we compare
Manito, IL 61546 94%295$79,551$136,400$92 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Lilly, PA 15938 93%298$71,250$153,100$97 Very close on everything we compare
Lumberport, WV 26386 93%237$75,720$186,800$97 Very close on everything we compare
Tennessee Ridge, TN 37178 93%382$72,692$173,600$134 smaller
Monroeville, IN 46773 93%35$72,813$172,300$99 Very close on everything we compare
Merrill, MI 48637 93%158$65,865$158,600$131 Very close on everything we compare
Orrick, MO 64077 91%538$75,956$171,200$125 smaller
New Florence, PA 15944 90%274$69,076$155,000$87 Very close on everything we compare
Rivesville, WV 26588 90%241$60,990$173,300$109 Very close on everything we compare
Pinetown, NC 27865 90%555$72,708$184,800$134 Very close on everything we compare
Albany, IN 47320 90%78$69,764$137,500$120 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Ovid, MI 48866 90%130$65,281$169,000$126 Very close on everything we compare
Ossineke, MI 49766 90%265$61,346$161,800$100 Very close on everything we compare
Birnamwood, WI 54414 90%364$72,500$200,100$138 pricier homes ($32K more)
Iberia, MO 65486 90%476$71,744$163,100$141 Very close on everything we compare
Yorktown, TX 78164 90%1,122$67,578$171,300$101 Very close on everything we compare
Trout Run, PA 17771 89%376$71,016$198,000$117 pricier homes ($30K more)
Mc Clure, PA 17841 89%359$63,269$165,700$125 larger
Westport, IN 47283 89%152$74,028$174,000$118 Very close on everything we compare
Viola, IL 61486 89%331$78,889$134,800$75 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Lacon, IL 61540 89%269$78,824$154,400$87 more renters
Flat Rock, IL 62427 89%238$81,250$160,700— smaller
Acme, PA 15610 88%262$72,938$197,100$102 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents
Centerville, PA 16404 88%234$65,972$156,200— Very close on everything we compare

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.