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 Winona Lake, IN 46590

Winona Lake: median income $82,188, home value $274,500, $152/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orange City, IA 51041 93%538$83,643$277,000$141 Very close on everything we compare
Volga, SD 57071 87%602$77,138$246,000— cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · less walkable
Morris, MN 56267 85%589$74,442$236,800$133 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Sioux Center, IA 51250 83%545$94,119$294,000$144 larger · more homeowners
Hancock, MI 49930 82%431$72,314$214,000$143 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older homes
Waverly, IA 50677 81%354$85,633$232,800$141 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · older residents
Fruitland, MD 21826 80%577$64,946$223,100$183 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Wilmore, KY 40390 80%240$73,767$245,900$186 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 8 min longer commute · less walkable
Kearney, NE 68845 80%694$76,978$282,000$147 larger · older residents
Cedarville, OH 45314 79%147$84,844$313,400$188 pricier homes ($39K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
Delhi, NY 13753 78%567$70,000$216,200$160 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents
Geneseo, NY 14454 78%426$77,857$243,200$165 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · younger residents
Pella, IA 50219 78%368$86,807$301,400$239 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · older residents
Lewisburg, PA 17837 77%465$88,975$288,100$170 larger · older residents
Louisville, KY 40242 77%203$75,417$299,600$174 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · older residents
Kalona, IA 52247 77%305$91,450$298,900$151 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Eagle Lake, MN 56024 77%456$95,357$285,600$162 newer homes
Sugar City, ID 83448 77%1,324$76,000$381,900$234 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Plymouth, NH 03264 76%741$76,892$288,800$226 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Bridgewater, VA 22812 76%412$85,941$366,900$206 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Valparaiso, FL 32580 76%740$91,645$394,700$257 pricier homes ($120K more) · 6 min longer commute
Columbus, MS 39705 76%549$68,487$231,800$145 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · older residents
Cedar Falls, IA 50613 76%352$78,503$270,800$159 larger
Mankato, MN 56003 76%468$82,538$270,400$162 larger · older residents
Colby, KS 67701 76%811$70,250$177,300— cheaper homes ($97K less)

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.