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 Saint Charles, VA 24282

Saint Charles: median income $31,369, home value $41,100, $134/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Luxora, AR 72358 71%390$32,841$43,000— 5 min shorter commute · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Leadwood, MO 63653 70%420$38,021$53,900$69 6 min longer commute · older homes
Wheelwright, KY 41669 68%39$36,042$58,100— older residents · 11 min longer commute
Temple, OK 73568 67%871$29,737$55,000$84 older residents
Morton, TX 79346 67%1,130$40,833$48,100$80 older residents · more renters · newer homes
War, WV 24892 66%82$36,707$44,200— older residents · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Earlington, KY 42410 66%248$38,194$64,000$69 8 min shorter commute
Welch, WV 24801 65%91$29,330$57,800$93 larger · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Cottage Hills, IL 62018 62%409$40,438$70,200$150 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Loraine, TX 79532 62%1,048$49,643$69,800— pricier homes ($29K more)
Commerce, OK 74339 61%653$34,970$72,900— pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Taft, OK 74463 60%699$32,000$59,300— larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Bayou La Batre, AL 36509 59%535$33,488$86,500$112 pricier homes ($45K more) · more renters · newer homes
Clarendon, AR 72029 59%484$35,515$66,800— pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Stamford, TX 79553 59%984$47,839$69,500$109 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · more renters
Hartford, IL 62048 58%408$40,946$65,300$89 older residents · more walkable
Grulla, TX 78548 58%1,169$37,308$54,400— newer homes
Stonewall, MS 39363 57%459$31,875$55,400— older residents · newer homes
La Belle, MO 63447 56%530$43,478$94,400— pricier homes ($53K more)
Vivian, LA 71082 56%676$27,616$66,600$96 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Erick, OK 73645 56%945$35,625$90,400$151 pricier homes ($49K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more walkable
Mccurtain, OK 74944 56%678$36,944$83,700$108 pricier homes ($43K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Bradshaw, WV 24817 55%78$25,363$50,800— larger · 16 min longer commute · newer homes
Evarts, KY 40828 55%10$41,354$62,200$86 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Grandfield, OK 73546 55%896$33,846$60,500$67 older residents · newer homes

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.