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 Burwell, NE 68823

Burwell: median income $61,974, home value $174,100, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Park River, ND 58270 95%460$69,811$164,200$129 Very close on everything we compare
Junction, TX 76849 94%784$62,977$188,900$179 larger
Fort Fairfield, ME 04742 93%1,573$70,852$161,000$76 larger
Sanborn, IA 51248 93%199$64,375$172,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Bowman, ND 58623 93%370$64,487$180,700$89 Very close on everything we compare
Mound City, MO 64470 93%233$70,833$165,800$123 Very close on everything we compare
Council Grove, KS 66846 93%254$61,842$154,100$109 larger
Moundridge, KS 67107 93%263$71,563$204,900$84 pricier homes ($31K more)
Slayton, MN 56172 92%226$71,875$187,300$96 larger
Energy, IL 62933 92%603$67,794$156,100$51 smaller
Canadian, TX 79014 92%414$62,273$204,300$153 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Coudersport, PA 16915 91%1,086$61,781$181,800$130 larger
Lake Linden, MI 49945 91%648$59,453$159,100$162 Very close on everything we compare
Wabasso, MN 56293 91%264$67,396$170,500$103 smaller
Lamoure, ND 58458 91%318$73,250$172,300— smaller
Concordia, MO 64020 91%350$59,269$201,500$138 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Minneapolis, KS 67467 91%200$61,750$159,800$74 younger residents
Eastland, TX 76448 91%650$57,122$183,000$124 larger
Del Norte, CO 81132 91%483$55,000$209,500$235 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · older residents
Basin, WY 82410 91%485$68,839$197,300$155 Very close on everything we compare
Croghan, NY 13327 90%1,207$66,875$181,300$144 Very close on everything we compare
Kersey, PA 15846 90%1,057$70,662$165,700— larger
Mineral Ridge, OH 44440 90%949$64,904$167,800$156 larger
North Webster, IN 46555 90%692$70,399$203,400$188 pricier homes ($29K more)
Covington, IN 47932 90%622$59,811$182,400$134 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.