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 Duluth, MN 55803

Duluth: median income $105,888, home value $336,000, $231/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Longmeadow, MA 01028 98%1,018$106,424$379,200$259 pricier homes ($43K more)
Syracuse, NY 13215 95%820$113,864$304,900$201 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Elma, NY 14059 94%715$113,555$346,500$252 smaller
Clarks Summit, PA 18411 94%891$98,824$292,500$197 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Berlin, CT 06037 93%1,021$116,042$377,100$236 pricier homes ($41K more)
Watertown, CT 06795 93%1,004$104,850$365,500$244 pricier homes ($30K more)
Cazenovia, NY 13035 93%839$109,394$296,700$208 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Fairview, PA 16415 92%672$108,214$310,600$200 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Livonia, MI 48154 92%528$104,867$304,700$198 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Windsor, CT 06095 91%1,017$105,322$305,500$221 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Waterford, CT 06385 91%1,057$100,484$365,400$302 pricier homes ($29K more)
Jamesville, NY 13078 91%827$119,191$313,000$221 smaller
Grand Island, NY 14072 91%694$115,991$327,000$211 Very close on everything we compare
Glenshaw, PA 15116 91%746$94,352$263,700$215 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45233 91%654$110,742$301,100$168 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Lake Orion, MI 48362 91%516$115,230$346,900$223 6 min longer commute
Ballston Lake, NY 12019 90%931$112,420$400,400$271 pricier homes ($64K more)
Richmond, VA 23236 90%984$110,499$346,900$211 larger · newer homes
Saint Joseph, MI 49085 90%432$104,969$304,600$200 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Shawnee, KS 66216 90%557$111,744$353,300$182 newer homes
Granby, CT 06035 89%1,008$107,957$350,500$221 smaller
Coventry, CT 06238 89%1,035$108,213$330,000$244 Very close on everything we compare
Voorheesville, NY 12186 89%935$112,446$360,000$232 smaller
Merritt Island, FL 32952 89%1,426$102,726$425,700$253 pricier homes ($90K more) · older residents
Hurst, TX 76054 89%1,005$109,881$377,800$214 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · newer homes

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.