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 Minto, ND 58261

Minto: median income $78,864, home value $119,000, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Victor, IA 52347 93%514$78,482$144,700$85 pricier homes ($26K more)
Cory, IN 47846 92%795$77,228$121,800— 6 min longer commute
Elwell, MI 48832 91%690$73,393$163,700$103 pricier homes ($45K more)
Mulberry Grove, IL 62262 91%760$65,089$123,800$144 Very close on everything we compare
Lewis Run, PA 16738 90%1,009$66,971$120,000$64 Very close on everything we compare
Edon, OH 43518 90%767$86,200$146,900$131 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Holland, IN 47541 90%862$78,409$156,800— pricier homes ($38K more)
Mendon, IL 62351 90%638$77,298$147,800$48 pricier homes ($29K more)
Ashland, IL 62612 90%677$69,569$113,400$98 Very close on everything we compare
Frankford, MO 63441 90%675$77,083$105,300$99 more renters
Knoxville, AR 72845 90%913$63,462$118,500$124 Very close on everything we compare
Winthrop, NY 13697 89%1,093$75,953$128,100$103 older residents
Rawson, OH 45881 89%833$73,775$154,600$134 pricier homes ($36K more) · older homes
Richland, IN 47634 89%877$70,781$137,600$147 larger · 5 min longer commute
Milladore, WI 54454 89%434$82,589$170,200$129 pricier homes ($51K more)
Mellen, WI 54546 89%340$70,104$141,900$85 older residents
Bancroft, WI 54921 89%461$76,164$176,000$244 pricier homes ($57K more)
Badger, MN 56714 89%67$70,962$157,100— pricier homes ($38K more) · older residents
Greenbush, MN 56726 89%60$71,667$164,200$98 pricier homes ($45K more)
Albany, IL 61230 89%567$62,344$138,600$121 Very close on everything we compare
Wataga, IL 61488 89%608$68,333$112,900$125 more renters
Saint Francisville, IL 62460 89%824$66,620$90,000$94 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Brashear, MO 63533 89%607$79,464$187,500$109 pricier homes ($69K more)
Canute, OK 73626 89%894$68,462$155,100$66 pricier homes ($36K more)
Guys Mills, PA 16327 88%961$76,146$156,400$192 pricier homes ($37K more) · 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.