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 Divernon, IL 62530

Divernon: median income $82,188, home value $160,100, $104/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rudolph, OH 43462 92%336$88,000$166,800$114 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Paul, IN 47272 91%217$75,117$135,900$136 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomington, WI 53804 91%237$82,917$165,800$114 Very close on everything we compare
Jasper, MO 64755 91%295$77,643$158,200$127 Very close on everything we compare
Russellville, MO 65074 91%166$74,464$178,800$128 larger
Pilot Grove, MO 65276 91%181$78,958$186,300— pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Oskaloosa, KS 66066 91%303$79,990$225,700$107 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger
Douglass, KS 67039 91%421$91,964$201,500$105 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Chapman, KS 67431 91%395$82,500$199,500$117 pricier homes ($39K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Colton, NY 13625 90%828$80,417$148,000$115 older residents
Minford, OH 45653 90%367$82,125$176,100— larger
Fountain City, IN 47341 90%254$81,750$157,900$100 larger · older homes
Monroe City, IN 47557 90%140$84,375$151,600$126 Very close on everything we compare
Donnellson, IA 52625 90%126$80,078$205,300$125 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Columbus Junction, IA 52738 90%147$80,385$145,700$117 larger
Benton, WI 53803 90%209$79,545$163,700$115 older residents
Velva, ND 58790 90%811$83,233$224,600$108 pricier homes ($65K more)
Lyndon, KS 66451 90%329$76,908$158,500$123 older homes
Cheney, KS 67025 90%457$86,840$205,100$127 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Udall, KS 67146 90%430$79,688$164,400$116 Very close on everything we compare
Sweetser, IN 46987 89%217$80,893$152,500— 6 min shorter commute
Vallonia, IN 47281 89%199$96,250$182,600$104 newer homes
Winthrop, IA 50682 89%229$89,375$183,800$142 Very close on everything we compare
Richardton, ND 58652 89%809$79,524$205,000$78 pricier homes ($45K more)
Riverton, KS 66770 89%323$90,521$149,100$113 7 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.