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 Ogema, MN 56569

Ogema: median income $57,434, home value $209,500, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Towson, OK 74735 95%902$57,986$156,500$116 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Huntington, AR 72940 94%834$58,056$167,300$152 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Fulks Run, VA 22830 93%1,037$61,038$215,000$173 larger
Thaxton, VA 24174 93%1,067$54,052$192,800$135 larger
Creola, AL 36525 93%1,196$66,719$209,100$155 Very close on everything we compare
Tustin, MI 49688 93%544$63,875$188,500$157 larger
Pittsburg, IL 62974 93%737$64,107$199,100$144 older residents
Sheldon, MO 64784 93%656$53,654$165,700$114 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Smithton, MO 65350 93%600$60,509$198,300$135 Very close on everything we compare
Macks Creek, MO 65786 93%649$61,136$162,100$125 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Columbia, AL 36319 92%1,230$62,159$165,600$143 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Glen, MS 38846 92%929$60,078$159,500$136 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Wilson, MI 49896 92%418$56,167$164,800$163 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Ontario, WI 54651 92%347$62,159$172,800$248 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Jarreau, LA 70749 92%1,163$54,375$227,300$156 5 min longer commute
Horatio, AR 71842 92%913$55,810$175,500$122 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Ochelata, OK 74051 92%726$67,841$178,300$152 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Bluejacket, OK 74333 92%713$54,667$181,300— cheaper homes ($28K less)
Bokchito, OK 74726 92%906$53,274$167,600$102 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Cameron, OK 74932 92%829$50,750$201,700$157 larger
Holliday, TX 76366 92%929$56,034$156,700$167 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Oldtown, MD 21555 91%1,010$53,266$197,700$119 Very close on everything we compare
Prospect, VA 23960 91%1,113$63,533$219,100$210 larger
Boston, KY 40107 91%832$60,398$204,000$159 larger · older residents
Fountain Run, KY 42133 91%880$62,353$163,900$101 cheaper homes ($46K less)

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.