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 Guttenberg, IA 52052

Guttenberg: median income $61,528, home value $197,400, $120/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Park Falls, WI 54552 94%222$61,317$150,700$116 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Normalville, PA 15469 91%634$56,301$140,100— cheaper homes ($57K less)
Harrisville, MI 48740 90%410$54,393$155,800$133 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Mehoopany, PA 18629 89%772$59,464$222,500$87 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Lutcher, LA 70071 89%879$60,569$222,100$166 younger residents
Gilbert, MN 55741 88%333$69,545$164,500$155 cheaper homes ($33K less) · younger residents
East Dubuque, IL 61025 88%32$70,739$197,800$126 younger residents
Albion, PA 16401 87%555$70,052$162,600$123 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents
Sodus, NY 14551 86%711$59,167$123,500$128 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger
Edinburg, PA 16116 86%561$69,559$130,800$112 cheaper homes ($67K less) · more homeowners
Flintstone, MD 21530 86%685$63,542$202,400$137 smaller
Au Gres, MI 48703 86%382$64,792$172,100$160 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Athens, MI 49011 86%304$59,722$158,600$139 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents
Hillman, MI 49746 86%391$47,432$164,400$125 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Phillips, WI 54555 86%206$59,025$186,900$153 larger · younger residents
Princeton, WI 54968 86%125$65,758$196,600$161 younger residents
Center, MO 63436 86%225$56,808$175,500$120 smaller
Schellsburg, PA 15559 85%672$61,902$211,700$133 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Transfer, PA 16154 85%557$57,870$167,000$106 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Germanton, NC 27019 85%732$59,176$205,000$174 Very close on everything we compare
Staffordsville, KY 41256 85%552$60,583$203,800$142 younger residents
Richmond, OH 43944 85%559$69,228$167,900$172 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Rossburg, OH 45362 85%376$61,687$231,500$152 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Pigeon, MI 48755 85%401$61,964$168,800$155 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Cassville, WI 53806 85%8$64,076$164,600$199 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller

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.