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 Raleigh, NC 27601

Raleigh: median income $71,350, home value $579,500, $387/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nashville, TN 37208 91%458$65,556$520,000$315 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Greenville, SC 29601 86%222$76,136$659,000$414 pricier homes ($80K more) · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84101 83%1,826$72,735$499,300$474 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenix, AZ 85004 82%1,899$73,750$417,400$331 cheaper homes ($162K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80216 81%1,459$82,143$425,700$270 cheaper homes ($154K less) · larger
Chattanooga, TN 37408 80%379$81,250$468,200$282 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97227 80%2,373$93,293$662,000$294 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30312 77%355$82,779$530,600$310 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80204 77%1,462$84,829$620,500$401 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older homes
Orlando, FL 32801 76%525$80,871$428,000$274 cheaper homes ($152K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenix, AZ 85034 75%1,898$63,559$422,200$280 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78752 74%1,164$67,682$422,000$334 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · less walkable
Denver, CO 80246 74%1,457$67,235$716,400$405 pricier homes ($137K more) · older homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 74%1,825$52,952$440,200$399 cheaper homes ($139K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Tampa, FL 33602 73%584$97,320$653,100$431 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
Addison, TX 75001 72%1,055$73,514$468,800$259 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Dallas, TX 75235 71%1,057$63,393$294,500$249 cheaper homes ($285K less) · larger
West Palm Beach, FL 33401 70%631$67,967$473,100$469 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · older residents
Memphis, TN 38103 70%644$76,278$397,300$207 cheaper homes ($182K less)
Portland, OR 97201 70%2,373$63,250$673,600$303 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Richmond, VA 23230 69%141$74,763$372,900$292 cheaper homes ($207K less) · older homes
Houston, TX 77003 69%1,054$83,980$384,400$194 cheaper homes ($195K less) · more homeowners
Renton, WA 98057 69%2,356$68,552$648,800$376 pricier homes ($69K more) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98402 69%2,366$60,505$531,300$438 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Nashville, TN 37203 68%457$71,281$549,000$460 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.