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 Monroe City, MO 63456

Monroe City: median income $64,160, home value $161,200, $116/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Willcox, AZ 85643 95%1,129$57,903$173,900$133 larger
Calvert City, KY 42029 93%257$64,083$154,100$117 Very close on everything we compare
Hardin, MT 59034 93%908$60,726$169,800$140 Very close on everything we compare
Madill, OK 73446 93%475$58,462$152,200$139 larger
Adams, NY 13605 92%856$70,045$191,100$136 pricier homes ($30K more)
Carthage, NY 13619 92%881$63,120$178,700$131 larger
Collinsville, VA 24078 92%672$53,665$143,400$119 Very close on everything we compare
Sandersville, GA 31082 92%676$57,308$121,000$136 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Hartford, KY 42347 92%300$60,900$134,500$146 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Osceola, IA 50213 92%144$73,026$165,500$115 larger
Boscobel, WI 53805 92%246$60,870$164,100$131 Very close on everything we compare
Edna, TX 77957 92%791$62,926$168,800$116 larger
Sherburne, NY 13460 91%869$61,587$149,000$107 Very close on everything we compare
Breckenridge, MN 56520 91%519$64,792$166,700$125 Very close on everything we compare
Davis, OK 73030 91%464$59,612$157,600$96 Very close on everything we compare
Fairfield, TX 75840 91%601$58,224$206,200$144 pricier homes ($45K more)
Garrison, TX 75946 91%564$58,177$151,800— Very close on everything we compare
Beaumont, TX 77708 91%672$56,586$158,500$109 larger
Grants, NM 87020 91%937$62,746$154,400$134 larger
Russellville, AL 35654 90%423$60,674$172,800$126 larger
Bainbridge, GA 39819 90%726$55,426$181,600$108 larger
Blakely, GA 39823 90%687$55,441$151,200$106 larger
Wadena, MN 56482 90%499$64,439$169,800$133 larger
Greenville, IL 62246 90%135$66,970$159,500$119 larger
New Roads, LA 70760 90%619$61,141$153,900$133 more homeowners

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.