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 Le Sueur, MN 56058

Le Sueur: median income $86,677, home value $280,300, $158/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, WI 53925 97%254$84,044$268,000$193 Very close on everything we compare
Springville, NY 14141 95%772$80,906$217,800$170 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Clinton, WI 53525 95%284$79,323$248,100$189 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Biglerville, PA 17307 94%903$88,571$258,200$171 Very close on everything we compare
Schuylerville, NY 12871 93%1,014$96,024$263,600$180 smaller
Waterloo, WI 53594 93%260$88,390$244,200$187 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 5 min longer commute
Beresford, SD 57004 93%173$88,750$264,100$168 smaller
Williamsport, MD 21795 92%889$87,864$295,800$180 larger
Hebron, OH 43025 92%660$87,381$287,700$190 older residents
Burton, OH 44021 92%676$82,008$242,900$170 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Missouri Valley, IA 51555 92%224$85,273$188,700$145 cheaper homes ($92K less)
De Witt, IA 52742 92%249$97,946$261,000$165 Very close on everything we compare
Fredonia, WI 53021 92%302$89,779$315,800$216 pricier homes ($36K more)
Palmyra, WI 53156 92%286$85,313$238,200$191 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Jefferson, WI 53549 92%273$80,101$262,200$207 larger
Mineral Point, WI 53565 92%216$84,589$269,800$183 Very close on everything we compare
Fox Lake, WI 53933 92%255$83,578$261,000$205 Very close on everything we compare
Terryville, CT 06786 91%1,068$87,306$265,300$233 larger
Williamson, NY 14589 91%836$86,885$192,800$149 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Versailles, OH 45380 91%561$84,135$235,300$139 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Galesville, WI 54630 91%128$95,549$272,300$153 newer homes
Mondovi, WI 54755 91%109$72,564$237,400$184 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Freeport, PA 16229 90%767$81,731$206,900$183 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Colfax, IA 50054 90%195$89,940$211,500$143 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Mitchellville, IA 50169 90%195$83,938$227,000$151 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller

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.