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 Belle Rive, IL 62810

Belle Rive: median income $57,969, home value $117,700, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Monette, AR 72447 96%182$59,444$115,100$159 larger
Worthington, WV 26591 94%463$61,071$124,000$98 Very close on everything we compare
Pantego, NC 27860 94%689$62,083$145,300— pricier homes ($28K more)
Lodge Grass, MT 59050 94%1,074$62,500$112,500— Very close on everything we compare
Weiner, AR 72479 93%215$54,853$89,400$63 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Afton, IA 50830 92%349$61,094$113,300$114 larger
Carterville, MO 64835 92%319$58,849$97,600$142 larger
Cyril, OK 73029 92%572$64,423$126,200$144 Very close on everything we compare
Bovina, TX 79009 92%826$65,333$116,300$143 larger
Geraldine, AL 35974 91%307$52,054$155,900$97 pricier homes ($38K more)
Bertha, MN 56437 91%641$60,345$123,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Ravenwood, MO 64479 91%350$61,184$150,700— pricier homes ($33K more)
Sudan, TX 79371 91%819$64,917$101,600$90 Very close on everything we compare
Man, WV 25635 90%376$52,583$130,100— older homes
Unity, WI 54488 90%464$63,571$142,400$116 Very close on everything we compare
Duenweg, MO 64841 90%319$59,167$124,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
Crocker, MO 65452 90%192$60,350$130,500$130 larger
Geary, OK 73040 90%561$61,328$117,000$56 older residents
Sterling City, TX 76951 90%820$64,954$147,000$145 pricier homes ($29K more)
Daisetta, TX 77533 90%653$65,557$118,500$107 7 min longer commute
Albright, WV 26519 89%499$54,328$128,500$178 larger
Mahnomen, MN 56557 89%726$57,731$143,800$82 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Bridgeport, IL 62417 89%63$54,792$104,600$92 larger · older homes
Puxico, MO 63960 89%117$57,875$146,500$67 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Princeton, ME 04668 88%1,189$48,720$117,700— larger · older residents

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.