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 27616

Raleigh: median income $83,565, home value $349,300, $183/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Conroe, TX 77304 96%1,054$80,425$355,300$159 Very close on everything we compare
Riverview, FL 33578 95%596$85,921$340,900$184 Very close on everything we compare
Kennesaw, GA 30144 94%366$88,560$345,900$188 Very close on everything we compare
Austin, TX 78754 94%1,169$90,121$349,400$192 smaller
Round Rock, TX 78664 93%1,164$87,417$358,200$194 Very close on everything we compare
Austin, TX 78744 92%1,177$83,002$357,500$212 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, FL 32258 91%433$102,204$370,700$197 smaller
Canal Winchester, OH 43110 91%360$77,442$304,200$191 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Lafayette, LA 70508 91%874$86,005$305,300$163 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Sanford, FL 32771 90%514$77,868$371,700$213 Very close on everything we compare
Cordova, TN 38016 90%634$76,569$282,800$133 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Denton, TX 76208 90%1,068$88,967$369,100$179 smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32246 89%422$80,963$312,900$222 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Hermitage, TN 37076 89%451$74,663$384,400$218 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · older homes
Murfreesboro, TN 37128 89%445$93,665$397,900$216 pricier homes ($49K more)
Mckinney, TX 75069 89%1,044$85,327$432,600$242 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller
Tyler, TX 75703 89%990$79,194$336,300$179 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Houston, TX 77070 89%1,067$77,397$288,800$137 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Newark, DE 19702 88%303$92,446$346,100$209 older homes
Pooler, GA 31322 88%302$91,344$312,200$180 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Brandon, FL 33511 88%592$81,301$362,700$209 older homes
Maumelle, AR 72113 88%784$79,248$291,700$158 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Fort Worth, TX 76137 88%1,088$90,718$310,900$175 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Port Wentworth, GA 31407 87%298$81,124$256,300$168 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Antioch, TN 37013 87%454$72,755$328,200$206 larger

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.