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 Dyersville, IA 52040

Dyersville: median income $84,761, home value $242,300, $126/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ferdinand, IN 47532 96%369$84,750$236,200$107 Very close on everything we compare
Cuba City, WI 53807 95%34$77,887$225,500$158 Very close on everything we compare
Aurora, NE 68818 95%373$81,045$263,900$123 Very close on everything we compare
Lancaster, WI 53813 94%32$84,004$220,400$118 older homes
Springfield, IL 62707 93%197$89,926$174,600$142 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Higginsville, MO 64037 93%272$91,843$187,100$151 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Silver Lake, KS 66539 93%340$87,554$230,600$138 smaller
Ponca City, OK 74604 93%507$80,331$210,000$117 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Apalachin, NY 13732 92%765$88,750$192,900$145 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Versailles, OH 45380 92%377$84,135$235,300$139 older homes
Negaunee, MI 49866 92%328$85,019$212,300$165 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Rushford, MN 55971 92%98$88,750$231,700$142 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Janesville, MN 56048 92%172$85,532$238,600$159 5 min longer commute
Ipswich, SD 57451 92%443$86,000$195,700$122 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Syracuse, NE 68446 92%290$90,746$236,700$127 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Huntingburg, IN 47542 91%363$77,574$198,100$135 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Mount Vernon, IN 47620 91%357$75,681$214,400$128 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Mt Zion, IL 62549 91%221$100,566$185,800$121 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Palmyra, MO 63461 91%187$69,707$212,000$124 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Mulvane, KS 67110 91%474$85,391$188,000$141 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Galva, KS 67443 91%440$88,938$220,600$137 smaller
Williamstown, WV 26187 90%548$83,226$198,300$145 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older residents
Northwood, OH 43619 90%396$76,537$182,000$166 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Doylestown, OH 44230 90%497$79,526$229,000$189 Very close on everything we compare
Lima, OH 45806 90%382$82,587$212,400$171 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger

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.