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 Salisbury, NC 28144

Salisbury: median income $52,568, home value $226,700, $159/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chattanooga, TN 37412 94%271$62,508$209,900$175 Very close on everything we compare
Pueblo, CO 81001 94%1,339$48,417$220,200$156 Very close on everything we compare
Cullman, AL 35055 93%373$58,405$218,900$156 Very close on everything we compare
Dothan, AL 36303 93%414$54,147$182,600$127 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Phenix City, AL 36867 93%339$48,026$207,600$148 Very close on everything we compare
Danville, KY 40422 93%275$59,615$220,400$154 Very close on everything we compare
Greenwood, SC 29649 92%137$54,585$235,100$168 newer homes
Rome, GA 30161 92%281$61,667$205,900$155 Very close on everything we compare
Thomasville, GA 31792 92%389$50,460$202,900$168 newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64138 92%801$58,638$188,400$142 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Springfield, MO 65803 92%720$50,572$173,500$149 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Hot Springs National Park, AR 71901 92%709$53,514$190,500$152 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Augusta, ME 04330 91%824$54,775$217,300$211 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, GA 31904 91%336$66,291$226,000$147 Very close on everything we compare
Gulfport, MS 39507 91%614$54,657$217,800$145 smaller · newer homes
Mishawaka, IN 46544 91%515$58,829$172,200$144 cheaper homes ($55K less)
New Albany, IN 47150 91%347$62,820$207,000$152 larger
Terre Haute, IN 47802 91%459$57,395$170,200$136 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Kalamazoo, MI 49048 91%534$60,454$177,200$163 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Grandview, MO 64030 91%802$53,216$188,800$149 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Joplin, MO 64801 91%785$52,620$180,600$137 cheaper homes ($46K less) · newer homes
Waterville, ME 04901 90%840$57,403$204,700$181 more apartments and townhomes
Cambridge, MD 21613 90%315$53,890$283,900$172 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Martinsburg, WV 25401 90%297$51,909$229,200$173 smaller
Decatur, AL 35601 90%375$51,429$172,200$134 cheaper homes ($55K less)

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.