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 Belmont, MI 49306

Belmont: median income $115,039, home value $373,500, $214/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Solon, IA 52333 95%315$118,721$366,900$177 smaller
Macedonia, OH 44056 94%241$101,285$308,500$195 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Amarillo, TX 79124 94%1,027$112,541$362,300$187 Very close on everything we compare
Lewisville, NC 27023 93%554$107,924$369,100$199 Very close on everything we compare
Ocean View, NJ 08230 92%624$115,152$410,200$245 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Gurley, AL 35748 92%579$103,563$356,300$198 Very close on everything we compare
Floyds Knobs, IN 47119 92%327$119,410$359,500$167 Very close on everything we compare
Mills River, NC 28759 91%555$107,609$444,300$274 pricier homes ($71K more)
Tallahassee, FL 32317 91%875$128,690$369,800$221 Very close on everything we compare
Greenville, WI 54942 91%171$119,508$355,900$217 younger residents
Elburn, IL 60119 91%169$130,722$402,300$215 pricier homes ($29K more) · 6 min longer commute
Bryan, TX 77808 91%1,032$113,343$375,000$209 Very close on everything we compare
Port Matilda, PA 16870 90%415$121,528$411,100$235 pricier homes ($38K more)
Mountain Top, PA 18707 90%511$109,567$301,200$174 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Crestwood, KY 40014 90%328$121,189$393,700$187 larger
Wadsworth, IL 60083 90%126$123,125$323,200$185 cheaper homes ($50K less) · 5 min longer commute
Kearney, MO 64060 90%524$112,683$356,600$186 more renters
Suffield, CT 06078 89%661$116,054$412,400$255 pricier homes ($39K more) · older homes
Mc Donald, PA 15057 89%331$120,821$355,400$192 larger
Magnolia, DE 19962 89%592$104,260$374,200$187 younger residents
Quinton, VA 23141 89%586$119,535$397,600$230 Very close on everything we compare
Orlando, FL 32820 89%1,032$106,859$438,600$221 pricier homes ($65K more) · 6 min longer commute
Sherwood, WI 54169 89%156$109,524$351,200$208 smaller
Greenwood, MO 64034 89%539$120,041$350,900$194 more single-family homes
Salado, TX 76571 89%1,064$111,863$466,100$218 pricier homes ($93K more)

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.