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 Amherst Junction, WI 54407

Amherst Junction: median income $101,563, home value $323,900, $139/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lohman, MO 65053 95%441$120,870$341,400$144 Very close on everything we compare
Janesville, IA 50647 93%204$104,063$314,200$144 Very close on everything we compare
Treynor, IA 51575 93%391$112,115$304,500$128 Very close on everything we compare
Brimfield, IL 61517 92%255$99,886$275,000$138 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Battle Ground, IN 47920 91%303$90,441$276,300$151 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Ceresco, MI 49033 91%263$94,750$326,600$204 Very close on everything we compare
Toddville, IA 52341 91%206$91,250$371,800$163 pricier homes ($48K more)
Crooks, SD 57020 91%377$101,500$320,400$169 Very close on everything we compare
Oldenburg, IN 47036 90%411$98,300$413,700— pricier homes ($90K more)
Long Grove, IA 52756 90%202$116,250$358,000$189 pricier homes ($34K more)
Britt, MN 55710 90%270$86,477$280,400$170 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Rollingstone, MN 55969 90%127$94,444$291,800$157 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Sherrill, IA 52073 89%151$95,526$297,400$128 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Princeton, IA 52768 89%202$112,563$291,100$151 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Jefferson, SD 57038 89%387$106,250$332,300$185 more walkable
Winfield, PA 17889 88%678$89,063$288,900$188 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Hoagland, IN 46745 88%328$89,643$242,400$143 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Earlham, IA 50072 88%322$111,250$303,900$176 larger
Lawton, IA 51030 88%373$86,167$271,000$148 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Pacific Junction, IA 51561 88%408$113,421$388,800$139 pricier homes ($65K more)
Kasota, MN 56050 88%230$90,000$342,700$211 Very close on everything we compare
Thompson, ND 58278 88%436$111,250$313,400$209 larger
Pleasant Plains, IL 62677 88%324$102,917$212,500$128 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Cuttingsville, VT 05738 87%818$95,000$331,900— 5 min longer commute
Hickman, TN 38567 87%606$100,368$340,500— Very close on everything we compare

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.