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 Circle, MT 59215

Circle: median income $86,000, home value $216,000, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Conrad, IA 50621 91%718$88,077$214,700$106 larger
Wessington Springs, SD 57382 91%407$79,375$164,900$146 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Sutton, NE 68979 91%608$85,862$157,900$169 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
West Point, IA 52656 90%841$83,750$189,900$110 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Hallock, MN 56728 90%411$79,444$152,100$96 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Haxtun, CO 80731 90%492$74,375$235,300$83 younger residents
Davidsville, PA 15928 89%1,411$87,237$227,900$130 larger
Bird Island, MN 55310 89%546$87,292$160,500$113 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Rosholt, SD 57260 89%435$82,656$170,000$216 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Hendricks, MN 56136 88%486$68,281$225,600$133 Very close on everything we compare
Big Stone City, SD 57216 88%456$88,203$201,300$197 larger
Lamoure, ND 58458 88%350$73,250$172,300— cheaper homes ($44K less)
New England, ND 58647 88%145$84,583$227,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Nashua, MT 59248 88%60$89,821$216,000— 7 min longer commute
Hagaman, NY 12086 87%1,551$78,155$230,800$285 larger · younger residents
Schroon Lake, NY 12870 87%1,547$72,628$268,700$382 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Leicester, NY 14481 87%1,381$79,135$163,000$152 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Hopedale, IL 61747 87%937$80,333$188,200$126 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Nauvoo, IL 62354 87%853$72,788$159,500$146 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Mound City, MO 64470 87%722$70,833$165,800$123 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Salisbury, VT 05769 86%1,577$99,792$316,000$230 pricier homes ($100K more)
North Webster, IN 46555 86%1,065$70,399$203,400$188 larger
De Smet, SD 57231 86%440$78,646$212,200$125 larger · younger residents
Burke, SD 57523 86%424$68,750$214,400$139 Very close on everything we compare
Hankinson, ND 58041 86%423$85,368$162,900$203 cheaper homes ($53K 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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