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 Ontario, WI 54651

Ontario: median income $62,159, home value $172,800, $248/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pellston, MI 49769 96%311$67,558$160,000$230 Very close on everything we compare
Ravenwood, MO 64479 94%312$61,184$150,700— Very close on everything we compare
Prospect, VA 23960 93%772$63,533$219,100$210 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Ogema, MN 56569 92%347$57,434$209,500— pricier homes ($37K more)
Manassa, CO 81141 92%921$59,539$202,500— pricier homes ($30K more)
Paden, OK 74860 91%649$60,398$138,500$189 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Clarkrange, TN 38553 90%598$63,500$174,800$219 larger
Thurman, OH 45685 90%542$61,700$115,000$190 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Eolia, MO 63344 90%310$69,250$186,100$178 Very close on everything we compare
Holliday, TX 76366 90%810$56,034$156,700$167 Very close on everything we compare
Malta, ID 83342 90%1,151$56,818$224,300$208 pricier homes ($52K more)
Plymouth, ME 04969 89%1,058$61,964$207,100— pricier homes ($34K more) · more homeowners
Campbellsburg, KY 40011 89%458$70,881$173,200$194 larger
Perry, ME 04667 88%1,162$74,712$169,000$257 6 min shorter commute
Freedom, ME 04941 88%1,055$65,662$214,000$216 pricier homes ($41K more) · older residents
Atlantic, PA 16111 88%546$70,074$162,300— Very close on everything we compare
Steens, MS 39766 88%712$65,707$162,700— larger · more renters
Tustin, MI 49688 88%257$63,875$188,500$157 larger
Baxter, IA 50028 88%184$72,022$206,300$203 pricier homes ($34K more) · older homes
Auxvasse, MO 65231 88%332$57,407$146,600$195 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Oak Ridge, LA 71264 88%769$68,750$158,100— older homes
Elmore City, OK 73433 88%725$58,194$152,400$177 larger
Bluejacket, OK 74333 88%533$54,667$181,300— Very close on everything we compare
Snook, TX 77878 88%970$60,417$207,000— pricier homes ($34K more) · more renters
Volant, PA 16156 87%559$69,054$221,400— pricier homes ($49K more) · 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.