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 Stover, MO 65078

Stover: median income $43,974, home value $150,200, $156/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mc Dermott, OH 45652 96%536$42,708$137,000— Very close on everything we compare
Surgoinsville, TN 37873 95%573$44,390$178,900$168 pricier homes ($29K more)
Spencer, TN 38585 95%457$48,015$152,700$123 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia, NC 27925 94%938$41,522$161,100$123 Very close on everything we compare
Ashland, MS 38603 94%328$43,676$143,400$138 Very close on everything we compare
Hurt, VA 24563 93%753$47,247$145,600$165 Very close on everything we compare
Pacolet, SC 29372 93%668$46,739$104,400$139 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Hesperia, MI 49421 93%507$53,555$162,100$160 larger
Winfield, AL 35594 92%425$44,732$156,900$124 larger
Fort Payne, AL 35968 92%485$43,539$122,400$152 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents
Magnolia, KY 42757 92%402$52,467$135,600$140 Very close on everything we compare
Baldwin, MI 49304 92%527$45,991$116,000$189 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Mill Run, PA 15464 91%731$46,250$119,500$171 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Cana, VA 24317 91%687$38,412$118,300$141 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Cope, SC 29038 91%758$43,563$157,700$134 smaller · newer homes
Gainesboro, TN 38562 91%429$39,398$148,100$197 larger
Bolton, MS 39041 91%443$41,137$174,600— Very close on everything we compare
Lunenburg, VT 05906 90%1,175$51,106$168,800$156 smaller
Tioga, PA 16946 90%869$54,792$156,000$184 Very close on everything we compare
Castlewood, VA 24224 90%595$49,894$120,200$112 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Chatham, VA 24531 90%750$43,333$148,000$127 larger
Harrisville, WV 26362 90%645$53,125$118,700$171 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Hamptonville, NC 27020 90%688$50,489$170,600$170 larger · 5 min longer commute
Centreville, AL 35042 90%502$46,509$144,100$119 larger
Section, AL 35771 90%473$51,875$134,900$145 younger 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.