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 Perham, MN 56573

Perham: median income $68,770, home value $286,500, $183/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lander, WY 82520 91%686$76,959$337,700$236 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Heyburn, ID 83336 91%935$71,191$298,800$219 Very close on everything we compare
Fruitland, MD 21826 90%1,162$64,946$223,100$183 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Coldwater, OH 45828 90%691$72,703$252,100$132 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Monte Vista, CO 81144 90%825$64,662$234,200$191 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older homes
Delta Junction, AK 99737 90%2,226$83,107$312,600$199 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Verona, VA 24482 89%1,022$75,866$262,000$224 Very close on everything we compare
Angola, IN 46703 89%625$74,569$231,300$173 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Alanson, MI 49706 89%523$76,906$248,500$235 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Rice Lake, WI 54868 89%199$64,318$227,800$158 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Ronan, MT 59864 89%872$61,978$297,700$274 Very close on everything we compare
Gering, NE 69341 89%518$73,638$185,700$194 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Mifflinburg, PA 17844 88%1,001$68,314$235,000$149 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Swannanoa, NC 28778 88%1,020$73,408$303,300$256 larger
Belden, MS 38826 88%920$75,862$253,700$172 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 5 min longer commute
Fort Branch, IN 47648 88%707$65,000$213,000$168 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Sturgis, SD 57785 88%407$63,897$296,100$221 larger · 6 min longer commute
Dillon, MT 59725 88%824$61,335$311,400$201 Very close on everything we compare
Tolono, IL 61880 88%587$85,536$227,900$147 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Fillmore, UT 84631 88%996$67,115$301,000$161 smaller
Tonasket, WA 98855 88%1,113$60,179$257,800$209 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Delhi, NY 13753 87%1,058$70,000$216,200$160 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older homes
Stevens, PA 17578 87%1,066$81,990$314,900$196 pricier homes ($28K more) · 6 min longer commute
Jasper, IN 47546 87%719$73,659$252,800$136 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Wichita Falls, TX 76310 87%894$82,183$224,600$153 cheaper homes ($62K less) · 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.