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 Capron, IL 61012

Capron: median income $98,594, home value $172,000, $172/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Riesel, TX 76682 92%878$84,148$197,400$151 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Minford, OH 45653 91%394$82,125$176,100— larger
Archie, MO 64725 91%400$84,722$232,100$180 pricier homes ($60K more)
Calumet, OK 73014 91%692$81,875$193,100$173 smaller
Theresa, NY 13691 90%662$79,943$173,400$147 Very close on everything we compare
Henley, MO 65040 90%338$89,167$225,800$190 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Geronimo, OK 73543 90%755$86,667$117,100$138 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Bliss, NY 14024 88%534$86,833$137,100$193 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Ararat, NC 27007 88%602$77,163$216,200$202 pricier homes ($44K more)
Underwood, IN 47177 88%306$83,542$145,700$180 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Centerpoint, IN 47840 88%226$102,991$170,000$151 older residents
Rives Junction, MI 49277 88%219$91,912$217,500$185 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Chico, TX 76431 88%798$86,875$194,700$198 larger · older residents
Thorndike, ME 04986 87%986$71,833$184,500$163 lower income ($27K less)
Clarendon, NC 28432 87%784$90,815$160,200$211 older residents
Roopville, GA 30170 87%650$90,962$222,000$189 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
New Haven, KY 40051 87%370$80,337$212,900$152 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
De Mossville, KY 41033 87%337$100,260$216,300$179 pricier homes ($44K more) · 5 min longer commute
Little River Academy, TX 76554 87%921$75,500$177,300$151 Very close on everything we compare
Hastings, NY 13076 86%641$95,889$176,400$148 older residents
Lexington, AL 35648 86%520$79,500$172,600$148 older residents
Mathiston, MS 39752 86%613$78,750$127,200— cheaper homes ($45K less)
South Boardman, MI 49680 86%233$77,216$168,000$193 Very close on everything we compare
Dresser, WI 54009 86%278$89,861$249,300$198 pricier homes ($77K more) · older residents
Maywood, MO 63454 86%227$88,192$167,200$226 smaller · more homeowners

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.