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 Powers Lake, ND 58773

Powers Lake: median income $103,750, home value $262,500, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lone Tree, IA 52755 94%737$102,434$242,700$127 larger
Colton, SD 57018 94%433$97,500$252,700$146 Very close on everything we compare
Chaseburg, WI 54621 92%652$94,286$280,000$202 Very close on everything we compare
Sidney, IL 61877 92%934$96,750$209,700$146 cheaper homes ($53K less)
North Franklin, CT 06254 91%1,554$105,000$326,200$246 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Battle Creek, NE 68715 91%522$95,714$238,800$123 larger
Richland, PA 17087 90%1,412$93,150$225,200$219 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Donahue, IA 52746 90%755$107,813$336,900$159 pricier homes ($74K more) · more single-family homes
Arlington, WI 53911 90%736$100,625$296,100$222 pricier homes ($34K more)
Fountain, MN 55935 90%607$85,000$246,800$153 Very close on everything we compare
Evansville, MN 56326 90%374$85,625$244,300$231 larger
Bartonsville, PA 18321 89%1,432$100,481$242,100$153 larger · newer homes
Blairstown, IA 52209 89%694$86,094$223,400$278 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Walker, IA 52352 89%686$92,321$231,300$131 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Strum, WI 54770 89%605$83,636$226,500$189 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Parker, SD 57053 89%450$93,393$273,800$212 larger
Utica, IL 61373 89%835$109,000$237,200$166 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Clayville, NY 13322 88%1,369$91,369$204,800$141 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Redwood, NY 13679 88%1,305$101,932$192,600$195 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Lawtons, NY 14091 88%1,218$82,833$236,200— cheaper homes ($26K less)
Washington Boro, PA 17582 88%1,419$100,263$304,800$211 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · older residents
Hegins, PA 17938 88%1,392$93,722$219,000$151 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
San Pierre, IN 46374 88%926$91,250$226,900$132 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Monroe, IA 50170 88%678$88,704$217,000$149 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
New Hartford, IA 50660 88%641$95,969$190,900$98 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older residents

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.