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 Keota, IA 52248

Keota: median income $77,174, home value $157,000, $91/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Unionville, MI 48767 93%461$77,938$123,100— cheaper homes ($34K less)
Lowellville, OH 44436 91%594$69,514$143,700$125 larger
New Madison, OH 45346 91%391$77,083$161,300$110 Very close on everything we compare
Waverly, IL 62692 91%162$66,143$123,100$85 cheaper homes ($34K less) · younger residents
Fairfax, MN 55332 90%260$62,361$144,300$92 Very close on everything we compare
Windsor, IL 61957 90%222$75,583$141,900$88 newer homes
Mount Pulaski, IL 62548 90%168$73,312$119,400$66 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Kewanna, IN 46939 89%290$69,000$140,700— younger residents
Gibbon, MN 55335 89%257$62,206$149,300$98 younger residents
Alpha, IL 61413 89%83$73,125$120,100$104 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · younger residents
Morrisonville, IL 62546 89%188$89,821$119,000$79 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Hay Springs, NE 69347 89%557$76,133$116,300— cheaper homes ($41K less)
Hastings, PA 16646 88%692$66,359$119,200$70 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Munger, MI 48747 88%444$81,458$141,300$109 younger residents
Glenville, MN 56036 88%166$73,287$182,400$98 pricier homes ($25K more) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Findlay, IL 62534 88%211$68,750$125,200$116 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · newer homes
Bird Island, MN 55310 87%277$87,292$160,500$113 6 min shorter commute
Winthrop, MN 55396 87%252$75,680$201,800$116 pricier homes ($45K more) · younger residents
Alden, MN 56009 87%179$80,804$203,700$108 pricier homes ($47K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Fulda, MN 56131 87%254$73,063$180,100$99 younger residents
Twin Valley, MN 56584 87%459$69,625$131,600$85 cheaper homes ($25K less) · newer homes
Tampico, IL 61283 87%114$64,063$122,300$103 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Cornell, IL 61319 87%168$82,589$192,900$114 pricier homes ($36K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Farmer City, IL 61842 87%189$80,117$157,500$127 larger · younger residents
Lilly, PA 15938 86%699$71,250$153,100$97 younger residents · 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.