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 Combined Locks, WI 54113

Combined Locks: median income $93,490, home value $246,000, $199/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Winfield, PA 17889 95%626$89,063$288,900$188 pricier homes ($43K more)
Millstadt, IL 62260 94%413$91,039$252,500$174 larger
Whitehall, MI 49461 92%116$83,363$265,300$218 larger
Shiner, TX 77984 92%1,134$92,656$213,100$178 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Arlington, OH 45814 91%333$91,115$207,000$160 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Minster, OH 45865 91%335$89,000$286,300$177 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · younger residents
New Bremen, OH 45869 91%332$88,277$249,700$183 Very close on everything we compare
Port Byron, IL 61275 91%210$108,438$245,700$196 Very close on everything we compare
Silver Lake, KS 66539 91%527$87,554$230,600$138 Very close on everything we compare
Doniphan, NE 68832 91%566$96,641$250,000$154 smaller
West Sand Lake, NY 12196 90%745$110,889$317,300$241 pricier homes ($71K more)
Apalachin, NY 13732 90%631$88,750$192,900$145 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Mertztown, PA 19539 90%694$107,656$266,700$228 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Crawford, VA 22841 90%637$92,862$370,500$207 pricier homes ($125K more)
Milan, OH 44846 90%354$93,333$243,500$180 older residents
Negaunee, MI 49866 90%158$85,019$212,300$165 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Bellevue, IA 52031 90%175$86,674$244,600$152 Very close on everything we compare
Paynesville, MN 56362 90%323$86,212$258,900$188 larger · 6 min longer commute
Muenster, TX 76252 90%878$94,444$310,100$214 pricier homes ($64K more)
Holland Patent, NY 13354 89%655$101,733$241,900$158 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Houston, PA 15342 89%498$92,402$247,300$165 more apartments and townhomes
Haubstadt, IN 47639 89%422$97,930$276,100$186 pricier homes ($30K more)
Montague, MI 49437 89%113$82,805$221,800$219 larger · 5 min longer commute
Janesville, MN 56048 89%267$85,532$238,600$159 5 min longer commute
Kasota, MN 56050 89%279$90,000$342,700$211 pricier homes ($97K more) · 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.