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.

Reset

Towns most like Syracuse, IN 46567

Syracuse: median income $77,103, home value $239,700, $338/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Alexandria, PA 15670 91%336$79,345$195,400$301 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Boyne City, MI 49712 91%265$74,033$294,800$318 pricier homes ($55K more)
South Haven, MI 49090 90%74$68,920$295,000$293 pricier homes ($55K more) · older residents
Turtle Lake, WI 54889 90%426$77,143$257,100$288 smaller
Valdese, NC 28690 89%451$67,000$211,300$219 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Chetek, WI 54728 89%402$74,712$224,400$237 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Lake City, MN 55041 89%392$78,672$275,200$221 pricier homes ($36K more)
Hinsdale, MA 01235 88%653$79,327$267,500$280 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Chicora, PA 16025 88%312$71,722$209,500$303 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Montague, MI 49437 88%143$82,805$221,800$219 Very close on everything we compare
Clear Lake, IA 50428 88%410$81,037$283,400$232 pricier homes ($44K more)
Chilton, WI 53014 88%220$79,865$210,800$230 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Kiel, WI 53042 88%209$86,389$239,400$205 Very close on everything we compare
Eagle River, WI 54521 88%358$74,071$305,100$257 pricier homes ($65K more) · older residents
Jaffrey, NH 03452 87%708$92,330$245,500$265 smaller · younger residents
Oxford, ME 04270 87%793$74,241$216,400$344 6 min longer commute
West Middlesex, PA 16159 87%274$69,391$178,000— cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
West Jefferson, NC 28694 87%415$58,486$273,200$266 pricier homes ($34K more)
Fennville, MI 49408 87%84$73,452$229,900$264 younger residents · newer homes
Tomahawk, WI 54487 87%347$72,416$227,700$222 Very close on everything we compare
Cumberland, WI 54829 87%426$66,538$245,800$217 smaller
Omro, WI 54963 87%238$86,227$238,200$233 younger residents
Warren, ME 04864 86%855$74,616$232,700$251 smaller · younger residents
Chester, VT 05143 86%681$70,610$255,200$230 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Livonia, NY 14487 86%424$89,688$228,100$242 smaller

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.