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.

Reset

Towns most like Fond Du Lac, WI 54937

Fond Du Lac: median income $81,841, home value $272,200, $192/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bellefonte, PA 16823 95%587$76,245$272,800$188 Very close on everything we compare
Hutchinson, MN 55350 95%296$79,123$255,500$159 Very close on everything we compare
New Oxford, PA 17350 94%651$79,401$236,500$174 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Newport, NC 28570 93%881$70,229$260,000$208 Very close on everything we compare
Morris, IL 60450 93%166$81,777$275,500$193 younger residents
Carlisle, PA 17015 92%634$86,981$297,500$189 pricier homes ($25K more)
Myerstown, PA 17067 92%672$76,183$237,200$162 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Decatur, AL 35603 92%643$81,490$247,400$151 Very close on everything we compare
Guntersville, AL 35976 92%663$72,643$266,500$190 Very close on everything we compare
Heath, OH 43056 92%411$80,014$253,900$193 5 min longer commute
Washington, MO 63090 92%382$85,025$273,600$189 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Edward, NY 12828 91%753$76,019$226,900$183 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
New Holland, PA 17557 91%691$82,491$286,500$194 younger residents
Roanoke, VA 24019 91%636$77,870$260,800$161 Very close on everything we compare
Lenoir City, TN 37771 91%596$66,938$279,600$214 Very close on everything we compare
Maryville, TN 37801 91%607$73,508$320,100$225 pricier homes ($48K more)
Saint Clairsville, OH 43950 91%467$76,175$225,900$177 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Streetsboro, OH 44241 91%409$88,517$210,100$188 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Wilmington, OH 45177 91%387$74,051$226,300$183 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Angola, IN 46703 91%233$74,569$231,300$173 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents
Grand Rapids, MN 55744 91%337$70,644$241,200$176 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Alexandria, MN 56308 91%363$78,177$341,900$194 pricier homes ($70K more)
Brainerd, MN 56401 91%322$73,128$261,600$192 younger residents
Catoosa, OK 74015 91%646$74,444$231,400$168 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
York, PA 17408 90%661$94,565$251,800$163 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.