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 Heppner, OR 97836

Heppner: median income $88,591, home value $222,600, $182/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hildebran, NC 28637 84%2,087$67,500$197,900$185 6 min longer commute
New Sharon, IA 50207 83%1,368$76,053$156,300$191 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Ely, NV 89301 83%484$77,518$235,600$176 larger
Victoria, KS 67671 82%1,134$77,702$181,900$176 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more single-family homes
Albion, NE 68620 82%1,104$83,450$231,700$169 more homeowners
Coulee Dam, WA 99116 80%188$65,946$238,900$165 Very close on everything we compare
New Bremen, OH 45869 79%1,797$88,277$249,700$183 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · more homeowners
Lake Mills, IA 50450 79%1,285$76,125$158,000$116 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Mountain Iron, MN 55768 79%1,284$86,075$198,500$145 older residents · more homeowners
Olivia, MN 56277 79%1,195$70,326$184,500$133 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Elkton, SD 57026 79%1,128$80,568$213,200$130 younger residents
New England, ND 58647 79%805$84,583$227,300$133 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Milford, NE 68405 79%1,174$75,250$244,600$153 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Waukomis, OK 73773 79%1,288$78,250$154,900$153 cheaper homes ($68K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Union Springs, NY 13160 78%2,109$86,029$185,600$168 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Shoemakersville, PA 19555 78%2,203$89,583$239,900$190 larger · 10 min longer commute
Smithville, OH 44677 78%1,908$75,435$230,600$247 more homeowners
Sloan, IA 51055 78%1,178$72,143$218,300$156 6 min longer commute
Walcott, IA 52773 78%1,458$85,523$214,400$178 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Fox Lake, WI 53933 78%1,506$83,578$261,000$205 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Brush, CO 80723 78%878$75,691$306,500$167 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger
Lovell, WY 82431 78%543$60,295$221,300$169 lower income ($28K less) · larger
Gunnison, UT 84634 78%582$72,130$292,700$163 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · newer homes
Waitsburg, WA 99361 78%92$91,367$295,900$153 pricier homes ($73K more) · 11 min longer commute
Brewster, MN 56119 77%1,186$83,583$183,700$137 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · younger 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.