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 Wichita, KS 67209

Wichita: median income $77,940, home value $224,100, $124/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Effingham, IL 62401 95%490$82,374$217,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Wichita Falls, TX 76310 95%272$82,183$224,600$153 Very close on everything we compare
Jasper, IN 47546 93%573$73,659$252,800$136 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Waverly, IA 50677 93%440$85,633$232,800$141 Very close on everything we compare
Pierre, SD 57501 93%486$81,791$245,100$152 Very close on everything we compare
Kearney, NE 68847 93%228$73,818$238,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Smith, AR 72908 93%234$72,732$197,000$132 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Bartlesville, OK 74006 93%105$71,796$200,100$118 larger
Mankato, MN 56003 92%484$82,538$270,400$162 pricier homes ($46K more)
Enid, OK 73703 92%93$73,333$196,300$130 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Warsaw, IN 46580 91%664$71,687$192,600$148 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Yankton, SD 57078 91%360$71,268$233,900$151 larger
Huntingburg, IN 47542 90%571$77,574$198,100$135 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Saint Peter, MN 56082 90%494$71,456$275,200$169 pricier homes ($51K more)
Savannah, MO 64485 90%209$67,929$199,700$125 smaller
Nebraska City, NE 68410 90%223$71,640$182,900$135 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older homes
Kingfisher, OK 73750 90%129$69,931$229,100$126 smaller
Graham, TX 76450 90%323$75,258$192,900$148 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Nederland, TX 77627 90%567$78,001$208,700$154 larger
South Bend, IN 46637 89%656$71,462$207,100$154 Very close on everything we compare
Angola, IN 46703 89%714$74,569$231,300$173 Very close on everything we compare
Auburn, IN 46706 89%706$80,965$219,100$162 larger
Grinnell, IA 50112 89%375$67,078$214,900$136 older homes
Sheboygan, WI 53083 89%659$75,203$244,800$188 larger
Owatonna, MN 55060 89%494$84,906$251,100$159 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger

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.