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 Crest Hill, IL 60403

Crest Hill: median income $73,074, home value $233,200, $195/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mays Landing, NJ 08330 92%719$77,167$236,600$213 larger
Aberdeen, MD 21001 92%641$83,238$285,800$188 pricier homes ($53K more)
Edgewood, MD 21040 91%636$81,704$238,000$164 Very close on everything we compare
Sanford, FL 32773 91%963$70,442$287,700$210 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
North Charleston, SC 29418 90%744$64,583$267,600$205 pricier homes ($34K more) · more renters
Dover, DE 19904 89%678$66,908$309,400$182 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Middle River, MD 21220 89%633$81,817$300,100$187 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Port Orange, FL 32129 89%945$67,924$248,500$197 older residents
Fort Myers, FL 33905 89%1,090$71,987$283,300$186 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Florence, KY 41042 89%254$79,712$223,000$178 larger
Ephrata, PA 17522 88%629$74,828$285,200$189 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Des Moines, IA 50320 88%284$85,105$216,900$205 6 min shorter commute
Minneapolis, MN 55433 88%362$78,054$296,900$191 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Dade City, FL 33525 87%971$69,068$260,200$185 pricier homes ($27K more) · less walkable
Clinton Township, MI 48038 87%273$78,567$265,500$166 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Martinsburg, WV 25404 86%554$70,633$246,200$184 less walkable
Decatur, GA 30035 86%581$66,799$244,200$142 more single-family homes
Tucson, AZ 85741 86%1,412$76,271$299,500$219 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Red Lion, PA 17356 85%612$86,561$240,500$150 Very close on everything we compare
Marietta, PA 17547 85%611$92,199$270,600$196 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · less walkable
Rosedale, MD 21237 85%628$91,693$295,600$188 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · older homes
Ranson, WV 25438 85%560$81,875$254,400$181 smaller
North Charleston, SC 29420 85%740$72,661$331,700$190 pricier homes ($99K more)
Oakwood, GA 30566 85%555$66,456$287,300$186 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller · less walkable
Panama City, FL 32405 85%796$73,373$279,900$196 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute

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.