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 Dearborn, MI 48120

Dearborn: median income $66,006, home value $224,000, $113/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kansas City, KS 66112 88%645$62,313$199,700$159 larger
Liberty, NY 12754 85%434$67,624$223,500$135 more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53224 84%253$67,803$211,100$150 larger
Indianapolis, IN 46214 81%238$59,178$201,800$141 larger · newer homes
Saint Cloud, MN 56304 80%588$58,148$251,500$147 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · less walkable
Omaha, NE 68127 80%668$66,384$248,100$162 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
New York Mills, NY 13417 79%404$59,453$205,500$169 smaller · older residents
Clarion, PA 16214 79%210$57,521$171,600$107 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53225 79%253$56,545$188,400$163 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Biloxi, MS 39531 78%884$54,218$211,500$138 larger · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53223 78%251$60,839$203,100$156 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Kansas City, MO 64137 78%640$66,036$181,700$147 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more single-family homes
San Antonio, TX 78217 78%1,224$60,988$242,300$150 larger · older residents · newer homes
Corpus Christi, TX 78412 78%1,286$61,215$197,500$147 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Harrisburg, PA 17109 77%358$71,833$215,900$163 larger · more homeowners
Louisville, KY 40218 77%314$58,811$205,300$147 larger · more single-family homes
Shreveport, LA 71104 77%892$56,833$164,000$97 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73132 77%905$60,419$213,500$131 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Houston, TX 77035 77%1,111$58,686$283,800$164 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30344 76%600$68,380$275,000$170 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Indianapolis, IN 46224 76%238$55,986$181,600$147 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Chicago Ridge, IL 60415 76%240$68,964$226,900$189 larger · 7 min longer commute
Wichita, KS 67207 76%808$67,889$215,300$122 larger · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
San Antonio, TX 78238 76%1,236$57,769$209,700$146 larger · newer homes
El Paso, TX 79935 76%1,463$61,323$197,500$149 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger

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.