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 Summit Argo, IL 60501

Summit Argo: median income $63,244, home value $234,300, $215/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Westville, NJ 08093 91%676$64,104$213,200$232 Very close on everything we compare
Penns Grove, NJ 08069 89%663$71,942$198,100$200 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Waterbury, CT 06708 86%761$67,364$218,500$202 larger · less walkable
Bristol, PA 19007 86%686$65,511$290,300$256 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Houston, TX 77011 85%931$50,133$209,300$179 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Paulsboro, NJ 08066 84%672$65,070$200,200$207 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Norfolk, VA 23513 84%704$68,380$234,000$200 larger
Pennsauken, NJ 08110 83%678$83,729$208,800$222 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Woodlyn, PA 19094 83%665$64,150$242,700$220 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Cudahy, WI 53110 82%81$66,719$216,500$203 larger · 6 min shorter commute
South Milwaukee, WI 53172 82%78$73,427$235,700$216 larger
Racine, WI 53403 82%64$59,820$176,000$188 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75224 82%798$51,919$239,600$207 larger
Waterbury, CT 06705 81%765$53,954$202,400$198 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Pleasantville, NJ 08232 81%717$53,899$195,000$215 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Trenton, NJ 08638 81%688$66,875$245,100$257 larger
Garland, TX 75042 81%781$64,266$240,200$185 larger · less walkable
Dallas, TX 75223 81%790$73,318$265,100$271 pricier homes ($31K more) · more single-family homes
Fort Worth, TX 76103 81%811$60,172$205,000$171 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77022 81%927$52,739$219,200$183 larger
Meriden, CT 06451 80%774$71,255$239,800$217 larger · less walkable
Schenectady, NY 12304 80%714$69,235$179,200$226 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Whitehall, PA 18052 80%644$75,665$262,900$201 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Marcus Hook, PA 19061 80%661$82,005$252,400$217 larger · less walkable
Hampton, VA 23663 80%695$54,336$202,300$191 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more single-family 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.