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 Harlowton, MT 59036

Harlowton: median income $50,000, home value $186,000, $91/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Westbrook, MN 56183 93%719$45,536$138,400$109 cheaper homes ($48K less)
George, IA 51237 90%710$61,667$159,500$89 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Fullerton, NE 68638 90%687$56,917$144,500$96 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 5 min longer commute
Audubon, IA 50025 89%808$52,438$118,100$97 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
West Union, IA 52175 89%915$59,800$160,600$88 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Wenona, IL 61377 88%1,099$57,321$139,500$86 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Onaga, KS 66521 88%840$61,250$193,000$75 Very close on everything we compare
Michigantown, IN 46057 87%1,247$53,173$187,600$137 5 min longer commute
Ellinwood, KS 67526 87%800$57,824$123,400$77 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Ravenna, NE 68869 87%661$65,208$169,400$79 Very close on everything we compare
Rushville, NE 69360 87%444$52,402$116,000— cheaper homes ($70K less)
Julesburg, CO 80737 87%535$52,500$161,700$90 5 min shorter commute
Wells, MN 56097 86%806$62,264$133,800$91 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Stromsburg, NE 68666 86%713$63,529$177,200$101 older homes
Bloomfield, NE 68718 86%656$60,250$139,200$65 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Creighton, NE 68729 86%649$63,292$152,300$71 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Neligh, NE 68756 86%655$61,667$158,300$89 cheaper homes ($28K less) · newer homes
Akron, CO 80720 86%546$65,913$219,100$96 pricier homes ($33K more)
Eads, CO 81036 86%666$59,868$173,300— smaller · older residents · newer homes
Flora, IN 46929 85%1,234$56,940$186,500$129 larger
Walton, IN 46994 85%1,240$56,563$136,200$102 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Canby, MN 56220 85%666$61,414$174,500$80 larger · more homeowners
Scobey, MT 59263 85%262$53,875$190,600— 6 min shorter commute
Walnut, IL 61376 85%1,058$61,200$128,400$91 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Morrill, NE 69358 85%426$52,159$152,800$137 cheaper homes ($33K less)

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.

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