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 Peoria, IL 61614

Peoria: median income $66,924, home value $172,100, $118/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 95%137$73,439$194,000$133 larger
Topeka, KS 66614 91%347$71,377$194,100$130 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, MS 39211 90%581$69,426$221,600$110 pricier homes ($50K more)
Southfield, MI 48075 89%350$65,384$227,000$135 pricier homes ($55K more) · 6 min longer commute
Lansing, MI 48917 89%290$70,990$222,900$149 pricier homes ($51K more)
Toledo, OH 43606 88%318$66,917$169,000$130 older homes
Montgomery, AL 36111 87%611$61,259$168,900$90 smaller
Toledo, OH 43614 87%316$58,961$168,400$141 5 min longer commute
Lincoln, NE 68506 87%368$72,637$258,600$157 pricier homes ($87K more)
Shreveport, LA 71105 87%618$67,968$213,000$120 pricier homes ($41K more) · less walkable
North Little Rock, AR 72116 87%436$79,010$232,600$132 pricier homes ($61K more)
Amarillo, TX 79109 87%772$70,435$222,900$142 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Erie, PA 16509 86%502$68,846$220,500$169 pricier homes ($48K more)
Lincoln, NE 68510 86%369$65,951$239,700$156 pricier homes ($68K more)
West Columbia, SC 29169 85%661$57,122$209,200$160 pricier homes ($37K more)
Toledo, OH 43623 85%316$71,171$169,300$146 6 min longer commute
Muncie, IN 47304 85%223$63,215$172,200$133 less walkable
Oklahoma City, OK 73112 85%565$58,419$196,400$156 more renters
Huntington, WV 25705 84%418$61,329$165,300$114 less walkable
Wichita, KS 67212 84%470$68,145$200,300$126 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · newer homes
Corning, NY 14830 83%656$73,263$169,800$117 less walkable · older homes
Montgomery, AL 36106 83%610$69,087$220,600$102 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · more walkable
Louisville, KY 40220 83%276$78,434$264,200$160 pricier homes ($92K more)
Terre Haute, IN 47803 83%149$60,565$156,300$138 more single-family homes
Oshkosh, WI 54902 83%230$65,612$170,800$180 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.