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 South Burlington, VT 05403

South Burlington: median income $105,616, home value $442,400, $281/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hopkins, MN 55305 95%993$104,914$451,800$234 Very close on everything we compare
Middleton, WI 53562 94%818$101,381$532,200$270 pricier homes ($90K more)
Madison, WI 53717 92%819$98,180$415,100$240 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Charlottesville, VA 22902 90%522$93,463$436,200$290 Very close on everything we compare
Raleigh, NC 27612 90%661$95,988$529,000$261 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 89%550$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Columbia, MD 21046 88%411$127,813$479,500$252 pricier homes ($37K more) · 6 min longer commute
Charlottesville, VA 22901 88%520$92,145$501,700$272 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28210 88%761$100,824$531,700$315 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Overland Park, KS 66210 88%1,171$95,636$373,200$185 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Dallas, TX 75248 88%1,492$100,414$576,100$254 pricier homes ($134K more) · larger
Tampa, FL 33609 87%1,252$115,844$605,600$361 pricier homes ($163K more)
Madison, WI 53711 86%817$100,735$424,600$260 larger · more single-family homes · older homes
Lebanon, NH 03766 85%73$100,881$395,600$270 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Raleigh, NC 27609 85%660$83,065$471,200$311 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Decatur, GA 30033 85%944$111,616$455,300$265 larger · 8 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30328 85%941$112,111$561,900$236 pricier homes ($120K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Madison, WI 53719 85%819$92,052$367,000$242 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · more renters
Minneapolis, MN 55416 85%988$105,958$461,500$272 larger · older homes
Overland Park, KS 66213 85%1,171$117,706$465,900$180 Very close on everything we compare
Overland Park, KS 66223 85%1,170$114,855$437,500$186 newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35243 84%1,051$99,645$538,400$233 pricier homes ($96K more) · less walkable
Minneapolis, MN 55441 84%992$101,981$470,100$214 pricier homes ($28K more)
Dallas, TX 75244 84%1,495$120,286$617,800$322 pricier homes ($175K more) · smaller
Englewood, CO 80112 84%1,652$108,874$659,200$282 pricier homes ($217K more) · larger

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.