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 Norfolk, VA 23510

Norfolk: median income $73,524, home value $385,700, $246/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Manchester, NH 03101 83%495$84,434$429,300$238 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Minneapolis, MN 55403 83%1,046$60,873$298,500$215 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · older homes
Addison, TX 75001 81%1,193$73,514$468,800$259 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75254 81%1,192$67,216$287,300$217 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · less walkable
Kansas City, MO 64108 80%1,007$80,551$291,300$282 cheaper homes ($94K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Austin, TX 78752 80%1,309$67,682$422,000$334 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Tacoma, WA 98402 80%2,435$60,505$531,300$438 pricier homes ($146K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53202 79%748$71,034$340,800$278 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · older homes
Irving, TX 75038 79%1,203$68,990$408,000$232 larger · less walkable
Saint Paul, MN 55101 78%1,038$64,863$260,400$210 cheaper homes ($125K less) · older homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 78%1,922$52,952$440,200$399 pricier homes ($55K more)
Baltimore, MD 21202 77%170$59,377$271,800$203 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · older homes
Dallas, TX 75240 77%1,190$58,320$395,100$220 larger
Philadelphia, PA 19122 76%225$63,676$349,800$247 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · younger residents
Orlando, FL 32801 76%646$80,871$428,000$274 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · newer homes
Fort Worth, TX 76102 76%1,224$75,859$296,600$304 cheaper homes ($89K less) · newer homes
Hartford, CT 06103 75%391$71,677$275,000$256 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller · more renters
Atlanta, GA 30329 75%499$76,579$488,300$229 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Omaha, NE 68102 75%1,095$64,111$389,400$329 older homes
Winooski, VT 05404 74%552$79,522$381,500$280 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55408 74%1,046$70,326$396,100$214 larger · older homes
Kansas City, MO 64106 74%1,006$52,564$238,000$173 cheaper homes ($148K less)
Houston, TX 77057 74%1,210$66,971$309,400$179 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80203 74%1,562$77,500$470,800$361 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95814 74%2,448$58,284$633,200$355 pricier homes ($248K more)

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.