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 Solon Springs, WI 54873

Solon Springs: median income $88,359, home value $253,100, $243/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gregory, MI 48137 94%467$78,973$306,800$228 pricier homes ($54K more)
Presque Isle, MI 49777 93%407$85,781$232,300$196 smaller
Nineveh, IN 46164 92%566$85,735$247,200$238 younger residents
Delton, MI 49046 91%415$86,054$312,100$253 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Pengilly, MN 55775 91%90$90,179$234,000$248 smaller
Margaretville, NY 12455 90%897$85,926$255,100$264 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Fombell, PA 16123 90%697$102,500$251,400$211 younger residents
Dent, MN 56528 90%188$79,500$319,300$248 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Limington, ME 04049 89%1,045$84,675$295,600$257 pricier homes ($43K more) · younger residents
East Nassau, NY 12062 89%939$87,679$249,600$217 smaller · younger residents
Swanton, MD 21561 89%795$73,858$328,700$295 pricier homes ($76K more)
Panora, IA 50216 89%350$79,635$228,600$261 younger residents
Washington, NH 03280 88%990$90,096$355,200$289 pricier homes ($102K more) · smaller
Lovell, ME 04051 88%1,024$80,625$295,000$233 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · younger residents
Charles City, VA 23030 88%979$81,250$253,700$206 Very close on everything we compare
Dinwiddie, VA 23841 88%975$70,670$247,900$256 younger residents
Micanopy, FL 32667 88%1,275$81,659$258,300$197 Very close on everything we compare
Sugar Grove, OH 43155 88%662$90,337$242,200$245 more renters · older homes
New Haven, MI 48050 88%509$91,136$337,600$222 pricier homes ($85K more) · smaller
East China, MI 48054 88%520$83,241$301,400$199 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Vergas, MN 56587 88%190$88,000$367,600$290 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller
Andreas, PA 18211 87%888$78,806$240,400$243 smaller · older homes
Lancaster, VA 22503 87%985$74,051$272,000$211 5 min shorter commute
Stanwood, MI 49346 87%367$72,975$233,800$177 larger
Germfask, MI 49836 87%281$85,500$210,100$254 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute

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.