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 Sentinel, OK 73664

Sentinel: median income $105,833, home value $109,100, $96/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elkhart, IL 62634 87%628$93,571$124,200$113 6 min longer commute
Riverton, KS 66770 85%282$90,521$149,100$113 pricier homes ($40K more) · newer homes
Annawan, IL 61234 84%661$79,688$146,500$92 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($37K more)
Sweetser, IN 46987 83%820$80,893$152,500— pricier homes ($43K more)
Nora Springs, IA 50458 83%643$99,643$157,500$89 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Armour, SD 57313 83%565$89,107$117,300— older homes
Wakeeney, KS 67672 83%270$83,917$118,500$105 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Mc Lean, IL 61754 82%652$98,681$162,500$110 pricier homes ($53K more) · 8 min longer commute
Cerro Gordo, IL 61818 82%658$84,375$116,100$86 Very close on everything we compare
Illiopolis, IL 62539 82%632$82,750$123,400$73 Very close on everything we compare
Frankfort, KS 66427 82%348$79,481$133,600— lower income ($26K less)
Tiskilwa, IL 61368 81%673$88,214$126,900$121 Very close on everything we compare
Minier, IL 61759 81%649$91,591$161,700$114 pricier homes ($53K more) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Laurens, NY 13796 80%1,385$88,750$166,900$112 pricier homes ($58K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Erie, IL 61250 80%665$84,688$167,700$95 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Roanoke, IL 61561 80%667$86,071$150,800$107 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Dalton City, IL 61925 80%650$81,316$133,200$122 Very close on everything we compare
Oreana, IL 62554 80%654$95,625$152,600$122 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Raymond, IL 62560 80%600$80,781$110,000$123 lower income ($25K less) · younger residents
Green Valley, IL 61534 79%633$90,104$167,300$108 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Bluffs, IL 62621 79%569$82,500$100,800$82 Very close on everything we compare
Tribune, KS 67879 79%271$80,536$114,800— lower income ($25K less) · younger residents
Alma, NE 68920 79%343$80,938$166,700— pricier homes ($58K more)
Boyle, MS 38730 78%489$73,938$88,800$125 lower income ($32K less)
Saint Ansgar, IA 50472 78%660$93,482$204,100$112 pricier homes ($95K 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.