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 Walford, IA 52351

Walford: median income $128,750, home value $303,000, $117/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dover, MN 55929 91%148$118,977$332,300$166 pricier homes ($29K more)
Westpoint, IN 47992 90%270$125,526$240,900$123 cheaper homes ($62K less) · older residents
Carlock, IL 61725 90%167$126,083$261,200$135 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older homes
Haskins, OH 43525 88%420$108,672$241,300$179 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Saint Jacob, IL 62281 88%244$132,000$308,900$174 larger
Surrey, ND 58785 87%630$105,375$317,200$168 Very close on everything we compare
Ellerslie, GA 31807 85%747$109,345$323,400$176 larger
Memphis, IN 47143 85%397$138,382$272,600$175 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Mapleton, IL 61547 85%141$108,158$243,000$124 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · older residents
Modena, NY 12548 83%912$132,083$428,800— pricier homes ($126K more) · older residents
Mayer, MN 55360 83%233$122,117$354,600$193 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Elgin, MN 55932 83%157$100,078$316,500$120 lower income ($29K less) · larger · older homes
Mapleton, ND 58059 83%432$115,469$331,800$201 pricier homes ($29K more)
Goodfield, IL 61742 83%159$111,875$240,000$87 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older residents
Agency, MO 64401 83%215$99,398$271,900— lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($31K less)
Andale, KS 67001 83%418$98,661$357,300$178 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Bennet, NE 68317 83%256$108,056$294,100$166 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Joseph, IL 61873 82%232$117,578$265,400$156 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Hickman, NE 68372 82%264$114,420$354,100$162 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Brownstown, PA 17508 81%822$104,597$347,800$131 pricier homes ($45K more) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Cologne, MN 55322 81%223$124,861$426,200$181 pricier homes ($123K more) · larger
Sabin, MN 56580 81%412$107,813$282,200$165 older homes
Crooks, SD 57020 81%281$101,500$320,400$169 lower income ($27K less) · older residents
Humboldt, SD 57035 81%291$99,565$326,500— lower income ($29K less) · older homes
Caledonia, IL 61011 81%154$127,273$311,900$147 larger · older residents · 8 min longer commute

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.