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 East Leroy, MI 49051

East Leroy: median income $74,886, home value $259,500, $187/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Clare, WV 26408 93%331$72,819$227,400$175 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Edgerton, KS 66021 92%565$88,125$242,300$219 Very close on everything we compare
Jeromesville, OH 44840 91%184$83,021$235,500$173 Very close on everything we compare
Marshallville, OH 44645 90%202$84,756$230,400$212 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Fleming, OH 45729 90%270$82,110$249,100$171 6 min longer commute
New Haven, MO 63068 90%403$79,632$226,300$161 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Clifton, ID 83228 90%1,364$73,750$292,300$192 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
New Paris, IN 46553 89%58$89,417$280,200$209 younger residents
Abbott, TX 76621 89%964$81,932$241,300$201 smaller
Sherwood, OH 43556 88%72$73,125$195,900$138 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Fairland, IN 46126 88%181$70,607$263,300$157 older residents
Greentown, IN 46936 88%124$79,900$223,300$152 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Mediapolis, IA 52637 88%316$81,477$194,500$169 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Stratford, WI 54484 88%301$72,047$248,600$158 larger · older residents
Waubun, MN 56589 88%626$72,969$200,000$168 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Taylor Ridge, IL 61284 88%289$100,505$236,900$204 higher income ($26K more)
Meriden, KS 66512 88%578$79,008$214,100$187 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Sedgwick, KS 67135 88%708$74,939$213,700$168 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Ovalo, TX 79541 88%1,059$71,032$271,400$219 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Malad City, ID 83252 88%1,378$76,328$271,600$229 larger
Volant, PA 16156 87%268$69,054$221,400— cheaper homes ($38K less) · more renters
Pinebluff, NC 28373 87%580$81,538$224,400$199 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Shreve, OH 44676 87%196$75,738$180,000$164 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Berlin Heights, OH 44814 87%154$68,702$193,600$143 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Cleveland, WI 53015 87%175$88,810$222,200$164 cheaper homes ($37K 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.