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 Durham, NC 27703

Durham: median income $89,317, home value $378,400, $201/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 95%743$97,051$379,500$224 Very close on everything we compare
Sanford, FL 32771 94%516$77,868$371,700$213 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, KY 40509 94%339$94,804$366,300$191 Very close on everything we compare
Lafayette, LA 70508 93%861$86,005$305,300$163 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32225 92%418$90,559$355,300$223 older homes
Melbourne, FL 32904 92%557$90,673$366,300$208 smaller
Baton Rouge, LA 70810 92%807$92,098$365,000$186 Very close on everything we compare
Colorado Springs, CO 80923 92%1,428$101,565$475,800$203 pricier homes ($97K more) · smaller
Albuquerque, NM 87114 92%1,559$84,277$333,400$202 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Kennesaw, GA 30144 91%353$88,560$345,900$188 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Noblesville, IN 46060 91%481$91,918$321,100$173 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Shakopee, MN 55379 91%981$106,312$379,700$201 Very close on everything we compare
Fayetteville, AR 72704 91%863$96,014$331,100$212 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Greer, SC 29650 90%207$94,522$342,500$192 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Oviedo, FL 32765 90%525$102,167$447,900$246 pricier homes ($70K more)
Hilliard, OH 43026 90%365$111,440$347,900$212 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Sioux Falls, SD 57110 90%1,077$88,955$396,100$206 smaller
Corpus Christi, TX 78414 90%1,226$98,771$292,600$168 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Murfreesboro, TN 37129 89%424$91,259$422,200$224 pricier homes ($44K more) · less walkable
Lexington, KY 40515 89%340$86,268$340,500$191 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · older homes
Ankeny, IA 50021 89%884$99,572$317,200$229 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
De Pere, WI 54115 89%760$94,721$339,500$213 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Denton, TX 76207 89%1,058$85,330$390,900$224 smaller
Round Rock, TX 78664 89%1,149$87,417$358,200$194 more renters
Idaho Falls, ID 83406 89%1,821$86,991$392,200$177 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.