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 Kansas City, MO 64156

Kansas City: median income $130,224, home value $410,800, $204/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cottage Grove, WI 53527 94%381$133,883$444,700$238 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Papillion, NE 68133 92%150$134,426$388,300$170 larger
Geismar, LA 70734 92%658$128,975$344,100$177 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Waconia, MN 55387 91%386$114,511$440,300$215 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Billings, MT 59106 91%845$125,833$496,500$246 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger
Spanish Fort, AL 36527 89%702$120,189$389,000$186 larger · 5 min longer commute
Knoxville, TN 37932 89%613$119,703$463,100$223 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Rogers, MN 55374 89%409$144,714$462,000$193 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Midlothian, VA 23114 88%922$112,738$409,100$220 larger
Madison, AL 35757 88%530$106,175$337,000$174 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger
Plain City, OH 43064 88%601$139,591$461,900$230 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
New Hudson, MI 48165 88%611$106,220$389,000$203 5 min longer commute
Tea, SD 57064 88%312$119,022$365,800$218 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Basehor, KS 66007 88%25$121,266$381,200$209 cheaper homes ($30K less)
West Henrietta, NY 14586 87%912$124,457$277,500$211 cheaper homes ($133K less) · larger
Toano, VA 23168 87%967$137,481$424,900$207 older residents
Bogart, GA 30622 87%714$133,563$397,700$221 6 min longer commute
Pike Road, AL 36064 87%673$119,853$380,800$172 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Whitestown, IN 46075 87%438$117,002$355,200$163 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 87%358$108,750$416,700$217 older homes
Oneida, WI 54155 87%486$99,597$389,700$184 lower income ($31K less)
Brandon, SD 57005 87%316$112,500$341,200$189 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Harrisburg, SD 57032 87%308$111,528$330,400$200 cheaper homes ($80K less) · younger residents
Gretna, NE 68028 87%156$143,604$407,400$177 larger · more single-family homes
El Paso, TX 79911 87%845$122,713$342,300$209 cheaper homes ($69K less)

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.