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 Kirkland, IL 60146

Kirkland: median income $88,032, home value $222,000, $181/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Utica, OH 43080 93%359$87,301$232,300$172 larger
Arena, WI 53503 92%91$87,361$239,900$198 Very close on everything we compare
Menan, ID 83434 92%1,171$82,731$277,400$192 pricier homes ($55K more)
Liverpool, PA 17045 91%624$76,800$230,300$143 larger
Baldwin, GA 30511 91%603$88,432$224,100$171 Very close on everything we compare
Pleasantville, OH 43148 91%367$72,072$242,000$202 Very close on everything we compare
Lakeville, IN 46536 91%140$78,448$227,000$164 Very close on everything we compare
Rio, WI 53960 91%93$84,911$282,100$160 pricier homes ($60K more)
Belfield, ND 58622 91%774$82,692$239,000$140 Very close on everything we compare
Lathrop, MO 64465 91%336$80,552$192,200$170 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Edgewood, TX 75117 91%754$90,954$250,000$181 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Landisburg, PA 17040 90%612$78,824$261,900$183 pricier homes ($40K more) · younger residents
Cresco, PA 18326 90%704$85,352$285,300$215 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Roopville, GA 30170 90%632$90,962$222,000$189 larger · younger residents
New Holland, OH 43145 90%342$73,500$177,600$173 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Bainbridge, IN 46105 90%194$87,736$248,500$142 pricier homes ($27K more) · more homeowners
Morristown, IN 46161 90%236$78,603$220,600$214 6 min shorter commute
Harlan, IN 46743 90%217$81,406$217,800$161 more homeowners
New Lothrop, MI 48460 90%258$80,000$213,900$195 more homeowners
Perrinton, MI 48871 90%226$84,803$230,600$169 5 min longer commute
Drexel, MO 64742 90%391$71,442$243,800$203 Very close on everything we compare
Pilot Grove, MO 65276 90%309$78,958$186,300— cheaper homes ($36K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Sturgeon, MO 65284 90%269$97,434$216,500$210 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Jo, TX 76265 90%746$76,036$216,500$175 smaller
Malaga, NJ 08328 89%742$101,583$236,900$247 smaller

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.