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 Delton, MI 49046

Delton: median income $86,054, home value $312,100, $253/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Solon Springs, WI 54873 91%415$88,359$253,100$243 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Nineveh, IN 46164 90%221$85,735$247,200$238 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Alfred, ME 04002 89%745$84,537$352,100$293 pricier homes ($40K more)
Limington, ME 04049 88%747$84,675$295,600$257 smaller · younger residents · newer homes
Canterbury, CT 06331 88%689$103,198$334,200$243 younger residents
Barto, PA 19504 88%530$98,859$388,300$225 pricier homes ($76K more) · younger residents
Lancaster, VA 22503 88%574$74,051$272,000$211 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Pine Grove, CA 95665 88%1,861$87,366$418,900$237 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller
Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096 87%124$95,601$249,100$211 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Delanson, NY 12053 86%570$91,991$266,600$230 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · younger residents
Eighty Four, PA 15330 86%320$111,680$367,600$202 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($56K more)
Hawley, PA 18428 86%529$76,538$293,800$191 larger · newer homes
Brightwood, VA 22715 86%474$87,353$359,400$210 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Culleoka, TN 38451 86%494$90,163$341,600$281 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · younger residents
Thompson, OH 44086 86%230$92,143$289,100$187 smaller
Fombell, PA 16123 85%293$102,500$251,400$211 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Sharpsburg, MD 21782 85%452$94,130$311,600$207 smaller · younger residents
Maurertown, VA 22644 85%439$75,606$287,000$240 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Newbury, OH 44065 85%226$95,442$285,800$183 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · younger residents
Campbellsport, WI 53010 85%163$95,391$307,000$235 younger residents
Underwood, MN 56586 85%578$79,583$309,800$268 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Holland, MA 01521 84%678$91,979$333,600$359 smaller
Argyle, NY 12809 84%606$83,938$256,100$238 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · younger residents
Fayetteville, PA 17222 84%447$80,000$255,600$163 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Dinwiddie, VA 23841 84%560$70,670$247,900$256 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · newer homes

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.