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 Hardin, IL 62047

Hardin: median income $116,250, home value $179,000, $75/sq ft, 50-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ozawkie, KS 66070 67%258$85,714$219,500$136 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($41K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Mokane, MO 65059 65%75$76,765$246,200— lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($67K more) · younger residents
Burns, WY 82053 65%736$115,486$260,000$173 pricier homes ($81K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Boyers, PA 16020 64%582$74,135$207,000— lower income ($42K less) · pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents
Anderson, AL 35610 64%345$98,188$168,300$150 younger residents · newer homes
Orrtanna, PA 17353 62%707$100,150$264,100$158 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Uniondale, IN 46791 61%308$128,542$307,300$116 pricier homes ($128K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Queen Anne, MD 21657 60%785$104,940$359,500$90 pricier homes ($181K more) · older residents · 12 min shorter commute
Otter Lake, MI 48464 60%468$81,417$206,000$146 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($27K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Braithwaite, LA 70040 60%652$83,649$159,100$124 lower income ($33K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Cold Brook, NY 13324 59%860$86,176$179,300$159 lower income ($30K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Chesterhill, OH 43728 58%468$66,000$143,500— lower income ($50K less) · cheaper homes ($36K less)
Holy Cross, IA 52053 58%237$83,000$251,900$116 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($73K more) · 13 min shorter commute
Moscow, TN 38057 57%291$90,340$248,900$169 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Corunna, IN 46730 57%330$116,181$316,500— pricier homes ($138K more) · younger residents · 11 min shorter commute
Quincy, IN 47456 57%212$69,896$179,400— lower income ($46K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Kopperl, TX 76652 57%623$73,545$207,700$115 lower income ($43K less) · pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents
Bradford, ME 04410 56%1,181$82,955$176,200$163 lower income ($33K less) · 11 min shorter commute · newer homes
Spring Run, PA 17262 56%690$87,708$221,800$169 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($43K more) · 12 min shorter commute
Airville, PA 17302 56%759$82,200$246,500$178 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Sunbury, NC 27979 56%787$63,170$192,300$120 lower income ($53K less)
Island, KY 42350 56%221$103,875$168,000$125 younger residents · 16 min shorter commute
Kissee Mills, MO 65680 56%216$77,563$186,200$151 lower income ($39K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Snow Shoe, PA 16874 55%682$79,375$178,100— lower income ($37K less) · 16 min shorter commute
Clarksburg, OH 43115 55%400$94,265$156,700$121 younger residents · 11 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.