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 Golconda, IL 62938

Golconda: median income $63,780, home value $113,500, $229/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sardis, OH 43946 94%438$62,832$127,700$209 smaller
Wausaukee, WI 54177 92%553$62,991$166,800$208 pricier homes ($53K more)
Osseo, MI 49266 91%372$66,173$170,800$204 pricier homes ($57K more)
Keosauqua, IA 52565 91%299$62,992$149,000$202 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Brookneal, VA 24528 90%526$58,343$140,000$204 pricier homes ($27K more) · younger residents
Shorter, AL 36075 90%373$53,505$115,700— smaller
Mecosta, MI 49332 90%469$59,509$182,300$237 pricier homes ($69K more)
Stratford, IA 50249 90%445$60,761$119,000$207 smaller · older homes
Butternut, WI 54514 90%607$70,769$165,000$216 pricier homes ($52K more)
Brownville, ME 04414 88%1,145$69,500$148,100$243 pricier homes ($35K more)
Warm Springs, GA 31830 88%374$61,250$143,800$225 pricier homes ($30K more)
Lewiston, MI 49756 88%562$53,333$162,900$178 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Noxapater, MS 39346 87%305$62,439$99,600— smaller · younger residents
Cassville, WI 53806 87%393$64,076$164,600$199 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller
Merrillan, WI 54754 87%504$58,125$170,200$208 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Normalville, PA 15469 86%523$56,301$140,100— pricier homes ($27K more) · more renters
Wilcox, PA 15870 86%598$63,750$126,800— smaller
Kennerdell, PA 16374 86%540$57,829$128,800$171 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Frenchville, PA 16836 86%606$62,841$131,700$210 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Kinston, AL 36453 86%447$54,485$108,900— younger residents
Au Gres, MI 48703 86%525$64,792$172,100$160 pricier homes ($59K more)
Crystal Falls, MI 49920 86%605$63,605$129,500$207 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Omaha, TX 75571 86%457$56,151$146,900$192 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents
Irving, NY 14081 85%615$65,778$124,200$291 younger residents
Middlesex, NY 14507 85%697$77,273$160,800$169 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller

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.