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 Stuarts Draft, VA 24477

Stuarts Draft: median income $84,260, home value $299,200, $200/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Black Hawk, SD 57718 95%1,330$84,162$300,100$195 Very close on everything we compare
Greenwood, DE 19950 92%194$75,305$292,900$202 5 min longer commute
Ellijay, GA 30536 92%376$80,000$338,500$240 pricier homes ($39K more) · 5 min longer commute
Jacksonville, FL 32220 92%554$81,792$254,700$172 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Stevens Point, WI 54482 92%707$94,500$288,900$173 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, LA 70748 92%853$77,500$284,700$162 smaller
Soldotna, AK 99669 92%3,390$80,980$320,200$269 Very close on everything we compare
Stokesdale, NC 27357 91%132$75,287$295,000$193 6 min longer commute
Piney Flats, TN 37686 91%212$84,264$352,200$211 pricier homes ($53K more)
Rogersville, MO 65742 91%772$83,795$317,100$178 younger residents
Maiden, NC 28650 90%206$74,922$229,000$185 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Talbott, TN 37877 90%273$77,624$234,900$190 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 7 min longer commute
Hortonville, WI 54944 90%662$100,523$346,200$201 pricier homes ($47K more)
Tyler, TX 75707 90%993$84,954$274,900$173 larger
Greencastle, PA 17225 89%140$88,457$304,100$171 larger
Troutman, NC 28166 89%191$93,511$348,600$191 pricier homes ($49K more) · younger residents
Cohutta, GA 30710 89%392$78,819$247,700$184 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Sebring, FL 33875 89%742$77,482$237,200$180 cheaper homes ($62K less) · older residents
Westville, IN 46391 89%483$82,692$253,500$196 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Columbia City, IN 46725 89%406$79,526$228,900$173 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Sparta, MI 49345 89%498$85,463$274,200$203 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Mosinee, WI 54455 89%723$96,140$251,300$179 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Fond Du Lac, WI 54937 89%638$81,841$272,200$192 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Cold Spring, MN 56320 89%944$87,026$353,600$168 pricier homes ($54K more)
Topeka, KS 66617 89%899$86,761$232,900$162 cheaper homes ($66K less) · older 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.