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 Rice, VA 23966

Rice: median income $57,177, home value $192,700, $169/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Blanch, NC 27212 94%78$57,108$190,400$159 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Ignace, MI 49781 89%687$64,152$165,400$176 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Sandy Creek, NY 13145 87%455$60,625$142,200$142 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Gresham, WI 54128 86%757$63,661$152,700$199 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more homeowners
Meridian, TX 76665 86%1,159$62,857$160,700$248 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older homes
Jenkinsburg, GA 30234 85%424$56,905$232,000$166 pricier homes ($39K more) · more homeowners
San Saba, TX 76877 85%1,239$53,500$165,400$164 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · younger residents
Pocomoke City, MD 21851 84%159$53,162$206,700$176 larger
Wildwood, GA 30757 84%429$60,947$173,600$149 more homeowners
Maysville, MO 64469 84%886$62,059$154,000$132 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Gallatin, MO 64640 84%866$61,302$194,300$186 larger · more homeowners
Goodrich, TX 77335 84%1,059$53,300$171,600$154 younger residents · more homeowners
Newport, ME 04953 83%702$60,365$234,800$182 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · more homeowners
Strattanville, PA 16258 83%277$55,188$183,800— more homeowners
Mc Connellsburg, PA 17233 83%185$61,296$195,500$166 larger
Cave Spring, GA 30124 83%452$65,078$217,300$195 less walkable
Hollywood, AL 35752 83%463$58,977$162,300$147 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Wittenberg, WI 54499 83%769$63,816$183,600$175 more homeowners
Sandstone, MN 55072 83%956$58,144$200,500$174 larger · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Inchelium, WA 99138 83%2,141$50,833$218,100— pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Lincoln, ME 04457 82%753$56,645$146,300$171 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · more homeowners
Friendsville, PA 18818 82%343$62,917$240,400$212 pricier homes ($48K more) · more homeowners
Flovilla, GA 30216 82%422$73,295$205,000$163 larger · less walkable
Sumiton, AL 35148 82%549$56,574$162,700$144 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Staffordsville, KY 41256 82%255$60,583$203,800$142 more homeowners

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.