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 Gap Mills, WV 24941

Gap Mills: median income $62,600, home value $124,200, $267/sq ft, 48-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mc Kenzie, AL 36456 87%554$66,150$109,200— Very close on everything we compare
Milan, GA 31060 84%418$49,643$80,700— cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Midway, AL 36053 83%480$49,357$104,200— larger · 5 min shorter commute
Plymouth, IL 62367 83%601$58,000$126,700— 8 min shorter commute
Otway, OH 45657 82%179$63,459$117,500$154 larger
Bivins, TX 75555 82%840$58,750$112,100— 7 min shorter commute
Shady Dale, GA 31085 81%341$46,375$116,100$200 younger residents
Honoraville, AL 36042 81%523$61,120$111,000— 7 min shorter commute
Leasburg, MO 65535 81%598$56,660$139,500$173 7 min shorter commute
Gilbertown, AL 36908 80%601$68,125$111,400— 9 min shorter commute
Roxie, MS 39661 80%740$63,125$86,600— cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · older residents
Corinth, KY 41010 79%240$71,204$169,800$191 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · newer homes
Chesterhill, OH 43728 79%156$66,000$143,500— older residents · more single-family homes
Patriot, OH 45658 79%140$64,162$116,600— larger · more homeowners
Jamestown, SC 29453 78%304$71,328$182,100$235 pricier homes ($58K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Gibson, GA 30810 78%325$54,429$122,100— larger · 6 min longer commute · more renters
Raleigh, MS 39153 78%645$60,833$99,200$312 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Gates, NC 27937 77%211$70,086$160,000$195 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Wagram, NC 28396 77%193$63,250$158,900$179 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · older residents
Traphill, NC 28685 77%95$46,406$123,200$312 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Warrensville, NC 28693 77%103$62,596$171,800$228 pricier homes ($48K more) · 10 min shorter commute
Woodland, GA 31836 77%408$46,771$112,000$201 older residents
Lobelville, TN 37097 77%434$50,658$134,300$235 larger · 10 min shorter commute
Preston, MS 39354 77%579$66,758$107,300— Very close on everything we compare
Creswell, NC 27928 76%248$65,625$143,500$126 Very close on everything we compare

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.