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 Shawneetown, IL 62984

Shawneetown: median income $50,288, home value $87,800, $78/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oakwood, VA 24631 91%341$43,980$66,800$77 larger
Pineville, WV 24874 91%364$54,596$96,600— Very close on everything we compare
Arlington, GA 39813 89%476$47,634$112,100— 5 min longer commute
Oaktown, IN 47561 88%90$45,911$77,500$71 older residents
Smackover, AR 71762 88%396$50,577$106,400$67 larger
Santa Anna, TX 76878 88%755$46,111$78,300— 6 min longer commute
Van Horn, TX 79855 88%1,053$58,910$79,300— larger
Linden, AL 36748 87%374$42,826$93,700$64 larger · 6 min longer commute
Moira, NY 12957 86%860$54,572$87,600$77 younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Uniontown, KY 42461 86%14$47,746$104,000$111 more single-family homes
Appleton City, MO 64724 86%320$49,338$115,600$86 pricier homes ($28K more) · more single-family homes
Mc Crory, AR 72101 86%238$50,921$105,100— larger
Lexa, AR 72355 86%259$55,307$97,600— Very close on everything we compare
Limestone, ME 04750 85%1,213$48,750$96,600$121 older homes
Hinsdale, NY 14743 85%602$57,244$94,500$69 more homeowners
Madison, WV 25130 85%349$53,294$95,900$76 larger · more walkable
Brilliant, AL 35548 85%255$43,958$68,800$72 older residents
Black Rock, AR 72415 85%196$53,750$93,300$67 more single-family homes
Santa Rosa, NM 88435 84%934$49,648$120,200— pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Norfolk, NY 13667 83%843$59,849$99,700$86 larger · more single-family homes
Alapaha, GA 31622 83%520$51,522$104,500— 5 min longer commute · more homeowners · newer homes
Blue Mountain, MS 38610 83%215$51,675$92,900$66 larger · more single-family homes
White River, SD 57579 83%772$56,474$61,000— cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents
Albany, MO 64402 83%374$54,444$111,900— larger · more single-family homes
Colt, AR 72326 83%236$48,728$99,200— newer homes

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.