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 Terry, MT 59349

Terry: median income $63,000, home value $158,100, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Caseville, MI 48725 95%1,087$60,298$178,200$188 larger
Condon, OR 97823 90%718$57,727$150,500$72 Very close on everything we compare
Greenbush, MI 48738 89%1,072$63,462$193,900$231 pricier homes ($36K more)
Hendricks, MN 56136 89%461$68,281$225,600$133 pricier homes ($68K more) · younger residents
Wessington Springs, SD 57382 86%376$79,375$164,900$146 younger residents
Armstrong, IA 50514 85%581$73,000$137,100$63 younger residents
Elizabethtown, NY 12932 84%1,538$56,771$183,900$255 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents
Harrisville, MI 48740 84%1,069$54,393$155,800$133 larger · younger residents
Keosauqua, IA 52565 84%788$62,992$149,000$202 8 min longer commute
Port Austin, MI 48467 83%1,098$53,750$172,500$189 larger · 7 min longer commute
Lincoln, MI 48742 83%1,066$66,477$170,300$126 larger · 7 min longer commute
Linton, ND 58552 83%248$65,515$122,000$98 cheaper homes ($36K less) · younger residents
Cook, MN 55723 82%596$64,526$189,700$307 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Lubec, ME 04652 81%1,831$52,083$187,800$221 pricier homes ($30K more) · 7 min longer commute
Machiasport, ME 04655 81%1,818$60,000$177,100$265 younger residents
Monterey, VA 24465 81%1,426$61,379$202,500$357 pricier homes ($44K more) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Stratford, IA 50249 81%645$60,761$119,000$207 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 8 min longer commute
Hallock, MN 56728 79%413$79,444$152,100$96 younger residents
Kenmare, ND 58746 79%201$70,263$149,700$87 larger · younger residents
Frohna, MO 63748 79%1,020$59,478$177,000$100 younger residents
Menard, TX 76859 79%1,139$47,443$110,900— cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Ontonagon, MI 49953 78%756$59,375$119,800$147 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Sac City, IA 50583 78%594$62,981$144,700$74 larger · younger residents · more renters
Eureka, SD 57437 78%297$49,276$86,700$78 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Greenville, ME 04441 77%1,701$64,789$291,900$361 pricier homes ($134K more) · larger · newer homes

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.