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 Postville, IA 52162

Postville: median income $64,125, home value $133,100, $107/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brocton, NY 14716 88%616$60,278$109,700$104 smaller · older residents
Okeene, OK 73763 88%597$61,868$135,400$84 smaller · newer homes
Renville, MN 56284 87%219$72,500$162,500$116 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Mahnomen, MN 56557 84%366$57,731$143,800$82 older residents · newer homes
Wagner, SD 57380 84%340$62,135$157,600$144 newer homes
Wolf Point, MT 59201 84%766$53,311$127,100— newer homes
Wisner, NE 68791 84%282$69,018$165,300$137 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · older residents
Farwell, TX 79325 84%856$71,771$163,400— pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · newer homes
Boron, CA 93516 84%1,500$61,000$126,600$151 5 min longer commute
Union City, OH 45390 83%399$52,150$118,100$88 6 min longer commute
Truman, MN 56088 83%155$71,354$153,300$77 smaller
Fairbury, IL 61739 83%221$76,555$164,400$112 pricier homes ($31K more)
Carrollton, MO 64633 83%271$58,726$128,400$125 older residents
Dimmitt, TX 79027 83%822$50,865$90,900$125 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Holbrook, AZ 86025 83%1,141$56,919$163,800$147 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents · newer homes
North Baltimore, OH 45872 82%422$62,298$127,700$79 older residents · more homeowners
Ladd, IL 61329 82%164$67,321$129,600$118 smaller · older residents
Lexington, MO 64067 82%291$69,546$177,200$118 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · older residents
Atchison, KS 66002 82%302$61,364$149,100$125 larger
Lexington, NE 68850 82%449$69,238$161,400$116 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · newer homes
Hennessey, OK 73742 82%585$70,538$171,800$92 pricier homes ($39K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Tonkawa, OK 74653 82%533$59,079$88,300$118 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Bovina, TX 79009 82%845$65,333$116,300$143 smaller · newer homes
Muleshoe, TX 79347 82%855$66,792$105,700$110 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more homeowners
Pantego, NC 27860 81%941$62,083$145,300— smaller · newer homes

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.