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 West Salem, WI 54669

West Salem: median income $103,194, home value $312,300, $168/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waterville, OH 43566 94%409$105,985$305,600$195 Very close on everything we compare
Scott Depot, WV 25560 93%608$103,160$270,900$165 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Imperial, PA 15126 92%603$99,693$225,400$188 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Winfield, WV 25213 92%606$100,711$268,600$164 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Bridgeport, WV 26330 92%644$88,962$271,800$160 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Holland, OH 43528 92%405$93,986$276,100$165 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Eldridge, IA 52748 92%157$107,869$326,600$185 Very close on everything we compare
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327 91%202$98,333$314,400$215 larger
Dubuque, IA 52002 91%98$91,036$298,900$173 larger
Hartford, SD 57033 91%293$105,560$289,600$202 Very close on everything we compare
Brewerton, NY 13029 90%749$103,878$249,900$223 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Twinsburg, OH 44087 90%521$99,270$320,400$199 larger
Lake Orion, MI 48359 90%401$93,125$350,100$186 pricier homes ($38K more) · more renters
Stevensville, MI 49127 90%265$93,338$296,900$193 older homes
Dell Rapids, SD 57022 90%281$100,656$325,200$192 smaller
Eudora, KS 66025 90%402$114,868$311,100$184 Very close on everything we compare
Vineland, NJ 08361 89%885$99,050$285,900$207 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Oakdale, PA 15071 89%608$102,328$275,000$192 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Cincinnati, OH 45247 89%464$94,603$288,400$170 larger
Stewartville, MN 55976 89%70$87,330$280,200$172 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Brandon, SD 57005 89%275$112,500$341,200$189 pricier homes ($29K more) · younger residents
Mahomet, IL 61853 89%291$115,512$282,200$191 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Glen Carbon, IL 62034 89%360$101,260$281,400$150 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Hampden, ME 04444 88%1,096$106,554$293,000$200 Very close on everything we compare
Boiling Springs, PA 17007 88%761$117,130$385,600$185 pricier homes ($73K more)

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.