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 Le Roy, MN 55951

Le Roy: median income $61,131, home value $168,800, $115/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Summerville, PA 15864 93%701$65,859$141,400$109 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Mayport, PA 16240 93%699$58,281$142,400$135 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Mechanicsville, IA 52306 92%129$61,875$167,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
East Brady, PA 16028 91%681$62,750$162,200$114 Very close on everything we compare
Jewett, OH 43986 91%630$54,375$150,000$99 Very close on everything we compare
Rural Valley, PA 16249 90%702$68,214$164,400$100 older residents
Osceola Mills, PA 16666 90%750$63,262$118,600$110 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
West Union, WV 26456 90%674$58,000$164,400— larger
Stoneboro, PA 16153 89%650$63,750$149,300— larger
Galeton, PA 16922 89%764$67,063$158,800$109 older residents
Greene, IA 50636 89%46$70,066$154,700$86 larger
Troy, KS 66087 89%292$56,875$127,300$133 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Fayette City, PA 15438 88%693$53,917$145,500$121 Very close on everything we compare
Petrolia, PA 16050 88%673$56,708$132,700$123 cheaper homes ($36K less)
North English, IA 52316 88%140$60,768$150,600$94 5 min shorter commute
Boswell, PA 15531 87%730$60,855$137,500$128 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · newer homes
Lilly, PA 15938 87%744$71,250$153,100$97 larger
Karns City, PA 16041 87%676$67,167$146,800$139 newer homes
Springboro, PA 16435 87%627$59,938$119,700$130 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Herndon, PA 17830 87%827$73,942$194,600$110 pricier homes ($26K more) · newer homes
Weatherly, PA 18255 87%870$69,034$189,600$125 larger
Holgate, OH 43527 87%455$58,821$136,300$120 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Roann, IN 46974 87%381$61,528$179,600$139 7 min shorter commute
Elsie, MI 48831 87%409$63,299$161,300$149 larger
Galien, MI 49113 87%327$59,219$171,600$117 less walkable

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.