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 Clearbrook, MN 56634

Clearbrook: median income $64,886, home value $216,400, $140/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ochelata, OK 74051 96%769$67,841$178,300$152 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Thompsontown, PA 17094 95%1,023$66,375$196,100$123 Very close on everything we compare
Hustontown, PA 17229 95%1,011$70,313$201,600$144 Very close on everything we compare
Smithton, MO 65350 95%636$60,509$198,300$135 Very close on everything we compare
Wolfe City, TX 75496 95%992$64,808$200,900$131 larger
Fairchild, WI 54741 94%301$62,679$166,700$176 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Italy, TX 76651 94%1,076$67,500$224,500$162 larger
Cornersville, TN 37047 93%961$64,688$260,100$201 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Waco, KY 40385 93%892$63,103$194,700$155 older residents
Melrose, WI 54642 93%323$73,452$210,600$152 Very close on everything we compare
Soldiers Grove, WI 54655 93%373$56,010$220,900$138 Very close on everything we compare
Macks Creek, MO 65786 93%685$61,136$162,100$125 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Morris, OK 74445 93%833$67,875$189,700$123 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Thorndike, ME 04986 92%1,263$71,833$184,500$163 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Prospect, VA 23960 92%1,115$63,533$219,100$210 Very close on everything we compare
Pilot, VA 24138 92%1,061$62,400$235,700$130 newer homes
Creola, AL 36525 92%1,225$66,719$209,100$155 Very close on everything we compare
Loretto, KY 40037 92%859$70,000$215,000$139 larger · more homeowners
Palmyra, IN 47164 92%794$63,389$222,800$156 larger
Deputy, IN 47230 92%787$80,729$238,400$129 Very close on everything we compare
Tustin, MI 49688 92%536$63,875$188,500$157 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Wellman, IA 52356 92%465$57,321$227,800$135 Very close on everything we compare
Eolia, MO 63344 92%625$69,250$186,100$178 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Miller, MO 65707 92%729$57,177$174,500$142 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Van, TX 75790 92%1,049$65,039$173,900$133 cheaper homes ($43K 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.