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.

Reset

Towns most like Blair, NE 68008

Blair: median income $89,583, home value $270,800, $157/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ottawa, OH 45875 96%630$93,144$229,800$160 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Grand Ledge, MI 48837 96%591$96,517$253,200$174 larger
Geneseo, IL 61254 96%310$92,297$222,700$141 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Spencerport, NY 14559 95%942$94,794$238,700$195 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Mason, MI 48854 95%604$94,716$248,600$164 larger
Ontario, NY 14519 94%967$85,532$234,600$209 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Canton, OH 44721 94%771$98,210$239,600$179 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Glenwood, IA 51534 94%41$93,646$246,600$177 Very close on everything we compare
De Witt, IA 52742 94%292$97,946$261,000$165 smaller
Bonner Springs, KS 66012 94%183$97,873$276,500$191 Very close on everything we compare
Macedon, NY 14502 93%966$83,330$234,000$206 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Vicksburg, MI 49097 93%550$88,208$239,500$164 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Stevensville, MI 49127 93%498$93,338$296,900$193 pricier homes ($26K more)
Morton, IL 61550 93%355$98,516$246,700$147 Very close on everything we compare
Lansing, KS 66043 93%172$103,060$271,200$153 Very close on everything we compare
Hilton, NY 14468 92%943$98,693$230,000$218 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Greencastle, PA 17225 92%971$88,457$304,100$171 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Spartanburg, SC 29302 92%902$80,819$285,400$156 larger
Holland, OH 43528 92%642$93,986$276,100$165 newer homes
Tipp City, OH 45371 92%637$93,599$302,300$164 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Mosinee, WI 54455 92%396$96,140$251,300$179 newer homes
Stevens Point, WI 54482 92%395$94,500$288,900$173 newer homes
Washington, IL 61571 92%356$90,386$204,300$133 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Monticello, IL 61856 92%411$103,559$230,900$155 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Topeka, KS 66617 92%169$86,761$232,900$162 cheaper homes ($38K 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.