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 Janesville, CA 96114

Janesville: median income $79,688, home value $338,600, $221/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Asotin, WA 99402 91%440$78,906$339,800$197 smaller
Taft, TN 38488 88%1,875$77,875$261,500$205 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Joliet, MT 59041 88%684$80,500$411,700$189 pricier homes ($73K more) · younger residents
Gold Hill, OR 97525 88%199$72,025$450,200$246 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger
Cabot, PA 16023 87%2,120$86,042$255,600$263 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Grottoes, VA 24441 87%2,214$82,083$263,400$231 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · younger residents
Charleston, TN 37310 87%1,969$81,645$270,600$227 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Walland, TN 37886 87%2,007$82,009$261,700$266 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Carmel, ME 04419 86%2,596$82,188$256,800$231 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents
Telford, TN 37690 86%2,063$74,286$246,200$186 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Rosanky, TX 78953 86%1,488$83,438$325,400$277 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Mc Kean, PA 16426 85%2,084$80,135$240,700$160 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Belgium, WI 53004 85%1,683$84,821$256,000$215 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Wright, WY 82732 85%806$78,355$239,400— cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller
Chewelah, WA 99109 85%568$62,391$327,400$235 larger
Farmington, NH 03835 84%2,517$66,982$289,800$242 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Cropwell, AL 35054 84%1,934$77,929$347,700$211 larger
Sturgeon Lake, MN 55783 84%1,445$82,421$267,000$157 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Osakis, MN 56360 84%1,331$69,013$246,300$173 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Orofino, ID 83544 84%479$69,458$292,700$198 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Brownsville, OR 97327 84%308$81,267$396,200$241 pricier homes ($58K more) · younger residents
Otis Orchards, WA 99027 84%539$74,718$444,500$228 pricier homes ($106K more) · larger
Kettle Falls, WA 99141 84%589$58,302$320,700$201 larger
Renfrew, PA 16053 83%2,109$76,054$297,500$218 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more walkable
Jackson Springs, NC 27281 83%2,238$74,547$292,400$193 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 5 min longer commute

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.