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 Stanwood, MI 49346

Stanwood: median income $72,975, home value $233,800, $177/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eddington, ME 04428 93%838$72,857$244,500$159 smaller
Fayetteville, PA 17222 93%481$80,000$255,600$163 larger
Hawley, PA 18428 93%541$76,538$293,800$191 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Union Dale, PA 18470 93%519$73,654$227,600$164 smaller
Rising Fawn, GA 30738 93%607$66,080$284,700$224 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller
Micanopy, FL 32667 93%989$81,659$258,300$197 Very close on everything we compare
Garfield, AR 72732 93%669$70,850$252,000$181 younger residents
White Haven, PA 18661 92%523$75,057$196,400$176 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Lancaster, VA 22503 92%619$74,051$272,000$211 pricier homes ($38K more)
Nekoosa, WI 54457 92%226$71,083$178,200$200 cheaper homes ($56K less)
New Ringgold, PA 17960 91%525$73,281$231,300$168 more apartments and townhomes
Sweet Valley, PA 18656 91%500$76,804$233,000$162 smaller
Clarksville, VA 23927 91%604$70,938$295,500$198 pricier homes ($62K more) · more renters
Landrum, SC 29356 91%608$64,514$292,000$203 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Florence, AL 35634 91%611$71,452$266,600$150 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · younger residents
Terry, MS 39170 91%837$66,638$227,700$134 larger
Bloomfield, KY 40008 91%393$66,486$224,000$193 younger residents
West Harrison, IN 47060 91%299$86,118$299,300$156 pricier homes ($66K more)
Nashville, IN 47448 91%304$72,537$312,600$196 pricier homes ($79K more)
Frederic, WI 54837 91%368$71,010$222,300$195 older homes
Luck, WI 54853 91%369$75,000$245,100$215 smaller
Spring Mills, PA 16875 90%445$71,250$307,700$211 pricier homes ($74K more) · younger residents
Gouldsboro, PA 18424 90%532$61,315$195,500$201 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Lake Ariel, PA 18436 90%531$69,498$239,600$188 larger
Charles City, VA 23030 90%614$81,250$253,700$206 Very close on everything we compare

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.