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 Waynoka, OK 73860

Waynoka: median income $62,500, home value $93,400, $54/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Witt, IL 62094 94%550$60,644$73,000$43 Very close on everything we compare
Russell, IA 50238 92%429$59,625$83,300$68 Very close on everything we compare
Peabody, KS 66866 92%145$58,705$97,200$46 Very close on everything we compare
Lorenzo, TX 79343 92%252$58,906$119,800$63 pricier homes ($26K more)
Warsaw, IL 62379 91%478$62,200$103,200$56 larger
Fairgrove, MI 48733 90%936$60,500$109,700$72 Very close on everything we compare
Clarkfield, MN 56223 90%587$71,667$110,000$74 Very close on everything we compare
Selby, SD 57472 90%618$61,708$120,200$68 pricier homes ($27K more)
Atwood, IL 61913 90%606$65,500$128,700$73 pricier homes ($35K more)
Wymore, NE 68466 90%271$61,574$87,300$80 Very close on everything we compare
Genoa, NE 68640 90%341$68,036$142,400$59 pricier homes ($49K more)
Andover, NY 14806 89%1,185$74,688$93,200$65 larger
Milford, IL 60953 89%664$59,135$106,700$74 larger
Potomac, IL 61865 89%649$66,786$118,500$43 pricier homes ($25K more) · older residents
Nebo, IL 62355 89%481$65,750$108,700— Very close on everything we compare
Rankin, TX 79778 89%411$70,808$123,500— pricier homes ($30K more)
Bay Port, MI 48720 88%957$60,250$139,100— pricier homes ($46K more)
Nokomis, IL 62075 88%554$65,954$93,400$73 larger
Mclean, TX 79057 88%136$70,865$91,300— older residents
Anton, TX 79313 88%268$62,788$74,300$78 Very close on everything we compare
Laurens, IA 50554 87%481$63,802$82,800$68 5 min shorter commute
Villisca, IA 50864 87%366$69,861$109,900$67 older residents
Mount Carroll, IL 61053 87%608$62,250$106,700$82 larger
Georgetown, IL 61846 87%651$60,871$85,700$68 larger
Martinsville, IL 62442 87%627$70,284$87,200— larger · older residents

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.