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 Albany, MN 56307

Albany: median income $84,097, home value $281,400, $179/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Vernon, TX 75457 97%861$83,916$249,800$178 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Stevens, PA 17578 96%1,001$81,990$314,900$196 pricier homes ($34K more)
Gap, PA 17527 95%1,015$94,788$324,900$175 pricier homes ($44K more)
Womelsdorf, PA 19567 95%994$91,458$250,600$168 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Mount Airy, GA 30563 95%961$84,561$240,500$184 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Clear Lake, WI 54005 95%115$87,813$274,300$206 smaller
Winterset, IA 50273 94%297$82,633$219,400$200 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Seymour, WI 54165 94%315$87,048$247,000$189 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Galesville, WI 54630 94%190$95,549$272,300$153 Very close on everything we compare
West, TX 76691 94%966$85,694$304,500$175 Very close on everything we compare
Moosup, CT 06354 93%1,161$87,711$298,600$228 Very close on everything we compare
Jonestown, PA 17038 93%978$75,417$252,600$193 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Abbottstown, PA 17301 93%973$84,712$250,900$171 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Rootstown, OH 44272 93%739$83,173$261,300$170 Very close on everything we compare
Coopersville, MI 49404 93%461$86,096$295,100$195 larger
Bloomer, WI 54724 93%154$72,391$244,700$177 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Elk Mound, WI 54739 93%150$88,667$260,400$180 less walkable
Seneca, IL 61360 93%421$95,093$258,200$147 Very close on everything we compare
Swanton, VT 05488 92%1,041$77,154$288,700$225 larger
Dayville, CT 06241 92%1,159$88,389$298,200$234 Very close on everything we compare
Newmanstown, PA 17073 92%994$91,452$272,200$214 Very close on everything we compare
Strasburg, PA 17579 92%1,008$91,621$349,400$240 pricier homes ($68K more)
Harrington, DE 19952 92%1,072$76,791$282,600$208 larger
Zebulon, GA 30295 92%1,022$81,667$279,200$180 6 min longer commute
Ashville, OH 43103 92%716$83,291$270,200$175 larger

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.