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 Harper, KS 67058

Harper: median income $62,121, home value $96,200, $52/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Plainview, NE 68769 92%350$61,833$122,500$52 pricier homes ($26K more)
Hettinger, ND 58639 91%653$63,636$116,500$52 Very close on everything we compare
Mott, ND 58646 91%665$56,667$92,800$58 smaller
Edina, MO 63537 91%374$59,891$105,000$48 more homeowners
Munday, TX 76371 91%280$61,335$84,700$50 more homeowners
Gordon, NE 69343 90%441$59,741$116,700— Very close on everything we compare
Wellington, TX 79095 90%208$58,889$103,600$72 Very close on everything we compare
Floydada, TX 79235 90%295$52,935$95,800$59 larger
Lenox, IA 50851 89%310$70,926$121,000— Very close on everything we compare
Scotland, SD 57059 89%403$59,779$121,500$60 pricier homes ($25K more)
Culbertson, NE 69024 89%254$52,337$106,900— smaller
Olton, TX 79064 89%315$59,698$89,500$71 older residents
Walnut Grove, MN 56180 88%497$67,689$131,600$47 pricier homes ($35K more)
Memphis, TX 79245 88%227$48,403$78,900$48 Very close on everything we compare
Belle, WV 25015 87%903$56,681$98,100$63 larger · 7 min longer commute
Gilmore City, IA 50541 87%420$56,364$95,500$64 smaller · more homeowners
Watonga, OK 73772 87%102$58,591$116,900$72 larger
Shattuck, OK 73858 87%124$56,313$127,600$53 pricier homes ($31K more) · more homeowners
Trona, CA 93562 87%1,079$65,650$66,100$57 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Electra, TX 76360 86%230$69,143$69,400$77 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Quanah, TX 79252 86%229$62,228$84,600$62 larger · older residents
Rotan, TX 79546 86%336$58,984$65,000$40 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 5 min longer commute
Bedford, IA 50833 85%293$61,042$112,900$69 older residents
Brunswick, MO 65236 85%304$46,806$98,800$62 Very close on everything we compare
Golden Meadow, LA 70357 85%706$71,383$132,900$45 pricier homes ($37K more) · 5 min longer commute

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.