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 Bellevue, NE 68123

Bellevue: median income $93,188, home value $290,800, $170/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sartell, MN 56377 94%324$87,172$302,400$167 smaller
Corpus Christi, TX 78414 94%932$98,771$292,600$168 larger
Midland, TX 79707 94%716$99,886$389,400$162 pricier homes ($99K more)
Lexington Park, MD 20653 93%1,053$103,048$353,300$186 pricier homes ($63K more)
Memphis, TN 38125 93%536$86,162$251,100$138 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Plover, WI 54467 92%398$87,580$268,600$168 smaller
Canyon, TX 79015 92%534$83,445$280,400$177 Very close on everything we compare
Bowling Green, KY 42104 91%585$75,164$306,400$174 Very close on everything we compare
De Pere, WI 54115 91%460$94,721$339,500$213 pricier homes ($49K more)
Lafayette, LA 70508 91%788$86,005$305,300$163 Very close on everything we compare
Harker Heights, TX 76548 91%703$80,520$287,800$142 Very close on everything we compare
Abilene, TX 79606 91%639$79,196$272,600$192 Very close on everything we compare
Pooler, GA 31322 90%1,022$91,344$312,200$180 older residents
Canal Winchester, OH 43110 90%695$77,442$304,200$191 Very close on everything we compare
Plainfield, IN 46168 90%512$90,000$297,200$159 older residents
Rogers, AR 72758 90%345$99,147$407,600$226 pricier homes ($117K more)
Temple, TX 76502 90%699$82,088$272,500$157 larger
San Angelo, TX 76904 90%716$81,833$285,400$176 older homes
Austin, TX 78754 90%751$90,121$349,400$192 pricier homes ($59K more)
Kennesaw, GA 30144 89%789$88,560$345,900$188 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Hattiesburg, MS 39402 89%769$75,220$253,900$153 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Kalamazoo, MI 49009 89%535$80,930$346,600$181 pricier homes ($56K more)
Green Bay, WI 54311 89%468$84,914$300,600$207 older residents
Rochester, MN 55901 89%268$94,607$317,000$177 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Dickinson, ND 58601 89%519$85,821$278,800$164 Very close on everything we compare

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.