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 Cornell, MI 49818

Cornell: median income $61,528, home value $191,700, $180/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Porterfield, WI 54159 94%57$69,375$186,100$177 Very close on everything we compare
Pocono Summit, PA 18346 93%677$56,750$189,700$190 larger
Aniwa, WI 54408 93%121$72,768$165,100$213 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Westboro, WI 54490 93%154$67,981$190,600$182 Very close on everything we compare
Ogema, WI 54459 92%150$66,250$156,600$224 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Randall, MN 56475 92%349$64,327$207,800$150 Very close on everything we compare
Middlebury Center, PA 16935 91%567$63,125$200,000$182 Very close on everything we compare
Delta, AL 36258 91%864$58,993$143,100$192 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Argonne, WI 54511 91%78$66,719$172,700$189 older residents
Iron, MN 55751 91%276$75,200$202,400$172 Very close on everything we compare
Verona, MO 65769 91%707$67,829$171,500$141 larger
Etna, ME 04434 90%880$72,379$183,000$195 Very close on everything we compare
Plymouth, ME 04969 90%876$61,964$207,100— younger residents
Stark City, MO 64866 90%719$59,712$169,100— Very close on everything we compare
Cedarville, AR 72932 90%804$59,740$165,000— cheaper homes ($27K less)
Blanket, TX 76432 90%1,156$69,688$216,700$147 pricier homes ($25K more)
Charleston, ME 04422 89%879$75,250$226,500$178 pricier homes ($35K more)
Washington, ME 04574 89%876$59,861$195,200$173 6 min longer commute
Cherry Creek, NY 14723 89%472$68,261$141,500$179 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Alum Bank, PA 15521 89%587$53,947$209,700$158 older residents
Tennessee Ridge, TN 37178 89%663$72,692$173,600$134 larger
Vesper, WI 54489 89%167$63,352$175,000$165 more renters
Bellwood, NE 68624 89%593$69,167$195,000$218 Very close on everything we compare
Sullivan, ME 04664 88%932$59,643$222,000$180 pricier homes ($30K more) · more renters
Palestine, WV 26160 88%563$48,992$181,100— 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.