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 Winston-Salem, NC 27106

Winston-Salem: median income $68,568, home value $313,100, $176/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Knoxville, TN 37923 93%211$73,699$333,000$213 smaller
Tyler, TX 75703 93%896$79,194$336,300$179 Very close on everything we compare
Macon, GA 31210 92%298$78,447$285,800$130 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Kalamazoo, MI 49009 92%512$80,930$346,600$181 pricier homes ($34K more)
Las Cruces, NM 88011 92%1,524$75,875$333,400$191 smaller · newer homes
Ridgeland, MS 39157 91%616$66,068$275,000$158 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Hattiesburg, MS 39402 91%619$75,220$253,900$153 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Eau Claire, WI 54701 91%836$74,361$289,900$184 5 min shorter commute
Athens, GA 30606 90%232$63,328$362,500$201 pricier homes ($49K more) · more renters
Huntsville, AL 35802 89%367$76,324$334,100$170 smaller
Mobile, AL 36608 89%595$61,146$262,200$152 cheaper homes ($51K less) · younger residents
Chattanooga, TN 37415 89%288$70,972$285,000$216 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · older homes
Bowling Green, KY 42104 89%345$75,164$306,400$174 Very close on everything we compare
Ypsilanti, MI 48197 89%457$73,737$294,500$186 younger residents
Bryan, TX 77802 89%998$70,666$254,500$170 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Greenville, SC 29615 88%144$76,117$377,500$212 pricier homes ($64K more) · more walkable
Nashville, TN 37214 88%354$72,012$340,900$243 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Chattanooga, TN 37421 88%283$82,517$333,700$197 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomington, IN 47403 88%400$70,582$239,700$185 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73120 88%966$64,745$238,000$167 cheaper homes ($75K less) · more walkable
Bedford, TX 76021 88%983$87,097$374,400$206 pricier homes ($61K more)
Augusta, GA 30909 87%210$71,364$242,400$155 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Savannah, GA 31419 87%291$69,635$257,300$178 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Valparaiso, IN 46383 87%517$76,224$279,900$179 cheaper homes ($33K less)
New Orleans, LA 70123 87%715$83,585$348,100$187 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller

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.