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 Scroggins, TX 75480

Scroggins: median income $73,920, home value $299,600, $170/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dahinda, IL 61428 92%613$77,143$285,100$185 Very close on everything we compare
Apple River, IL 61001 91%707$77,841$300,300$182 Very close on everything we compare
Birchwood, WI 54817 90%891$83,036$275,000$229 Very close on everything we compare
Dent, MN 56528 90%934$79,500$319,300$248 Very close on everything we compare
Good Hope, GA 30641 89%671$70,491$409,400$220 pricier homes ($110K more)
Berrien Center, MI 49102 89%784$63,000$262,400$148 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older homes
Easton, KS 66020 89%435$78,594$320,100— Very close on everything we compare
Brackney, PA 18812 88%1,218$89,688$271,100$209 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older homes
Cushing, MN 56443 88%909$71,310$341,200$201 pricier homes ($42K more) · 7 min longer commute
Roach, MO 65787 88%372$62,917$314,500$254 Very close on everything we compare
Austin, CO 81410 88%817$67,826$366,700$213 pricier homes ($67K more)
Bear Lake, MI 49614 87%924$72,250$223,100$201 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · older homes
Darwin, MN 55324 87%834$83,269$355,100$196 pricier homes ($56K more) · younger residents
Akeley, MN 56433 87%964$58,889$228,500$185 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Nevis, MN 56467 87%959$74,297$318,000$263 larger
Bigfork, MN 56628 87%1,019$61,250$244,700$189 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Centertown, MO 65023 87%416$72,663$221,200$193 cheaper homes ($78K less) · older homes
Green Ridge, MO 65332 87%397$66,750$243,500$146 cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents
Andes, NY 13731 86%1,277$73,750$291,300$214 smaller · younger residents
Drummond Island, MI 49726 86%1,081$67,232$273,200— cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents
Wakarusa, KS 66546 86%406$86,607$232,300$174 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older homes
Vermontville, NY 12989 85%1,379$84,464$228,400$199 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older homes
Brooks, KY 40109 85%632$75,495$262,400$148 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Durango, IA 52039 85%698$79,345$330,700$152 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · older homes
Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539 85%930$62,841$282,200$246 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.