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 Wilson, NC 27893

Wilson: median income $42,810, home value $158,600, $155/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nogales, AZ 85621 94%1,916$43,464$193,200$141 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Brunswick, GA 31520 92%376$40,071$147,500$155 smaller · older homes
Spartanburg, SC 29303 91%231$48,295$159,500$137 younger residents
Tifton, GA 31794 91%435$46,056$130,100$123 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Jackson, TN 38301 91%611$43,227$132,900$128 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Spartanburg, SC 29306 90%233$41,356$177,500$152 smaller · younger residents
Florence, SC 29506 90%143$40,311$123,300$148 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Cordele, GA 31015 90%425$44,452$148,600$128 smaller
Warner Robins, GA 31093 90%390$45,991$157,100$130 Very close on everything we compare
Savannah, GA 31408 90%312$45,839$169,700$159 smaller
Moultrie, GA 31768 90%460$46,858$143,800$141 smaller · more homeowners
Cleveland, TN 37311 90%393$47,153$226,800$195 pricier homes ($68K more)
Lawton, OK 73501 90%1,156$49,741$133,000$119 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Harlingen, TX 78550 90%1,340$49,007$131,100$136 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Columbia, SC 29203 89%210$46,054$141,300$148 more walkable
Valdosta, GA 31601 89%464$36,111$142,200$141 younger residents
Jonesboro, AR 72401 89%716$45,329$188,600$124 pricier homes ($30K more)
Texarkana, TX 75501 89%937$45,995$136,100$122 more homeowners
Hopkinsville, KY 42240 88%538$51,534$174,200$160 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Wales, FL 33853 87%582$44,474$209,300$144 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller
Pontiac, MI 48340 87%559$47,891$119,900$116 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · older homes
New Iberia, LA 70560 87%897$45,509$133,700$115 more homeowners
Mcallen, TX 78501 87%1,367$48,071$161,000$129 larger
Greenwood, SC 29646 86%263$44,441$142,400$145 more homeowners
Florence, AL 35630 86%552$46,304$174,800$132 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.