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 Wales, WI 53183

Wales: median income $108,827, home value $398,700, $207/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Granby, CT 06026 96%799$119,375$388,000$233 larger
Plainfield, NH 03781 93%810$109,659$426,400$270 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Pomfret Center, CT 06259 93%838$108,476$401,700$267 Very close on everything we compare
Boiling Springs, PA 17007 93%614$117,130$385,600$185 larger
Voorheesville, NY 12186 92%731$112,446$360,000$232 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Schoolcraft, MI 49087 92%151$106,250$305,900$181 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Bolton, CT 06043 91%817$126,364$367,600$257 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Earlham, IA 50072 91%313$111,250$303,900$176 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Malcolm, NE 68402 91%459$123,000$449,000$241 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller
Holderness, NH 03245 90%843$107,863$363,100$273 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Holden, ME 04429 90%989$97,244$313,600$191 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
West Hurley, NY 12491 90%730$100,257$381,800$268 smaller
Long Grove, IA 52756 90%142$116,250$358,000$189 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Hawley, MN 56549 90%478$105,968$341,500$170 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Thompson, ND 58278 90%536$111,250$313,400$209 cheaper homes ($85K less)
East Montpelier, VT 05651 89%798$103,393$393,500$201 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
West Suffield, CT 06093 89%799$122,041$393,800$254 Very close on everything we compare
Averill Park, NY 12018 89%751$126,620$345,200$235 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Elma, NY 14059 89%493$113,555$346,500$252 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Green Lane, PA 18054 89%692$101,920$411,400$196 larger
Dalton, PA 18414 89%655$93,065$288,500$194 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger
Oley, PA 19547 89%675$89,948$357,900$213 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Richland, MI 49083 89%155$105,496$348,100$170 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Solon, IA 52333 89%180$118,721$366,900$177 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · newer homes
Le Claire, IA 52753 89%140$103,813$328,700$215 cheaper homes ($70K 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.