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 Pinehurst, NC 28374

Pinehurst: median income $111,311, home value $491,200, $246/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tucson, AZ 85755 94%1,811$113,831$486,900$260 5 min longer commute
Tucson, AZ 85749 86%1,802$109,219$590,400$282 pricier homes ($99K more) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Santa Fe, NM 87508 86%1,486$101,565$561,200$335 pricier homes ($70K more)
Chandler, AZ 85248 85%1,847$94,495$527,800$275 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Lewes, DE 19958 83%341$97,197$534,600$266 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Seneca, SC 29672 83%199$90,650$482,100$271 smaller
Tucson, AZ 85737 83%1,810$107,348$469,500$246 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 82%294$108,632$571,100$344 pricier homes ($80K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Pawleys Island, SC 29585 80%122$81,946$463,400$273 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($28K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Greensboro, GA 30642 80%239$95,527$496,400$262 Very close on everything we compare
Tucson, AZ 85750 80%1,806$102,836$585,300$281 pricier homes ($94K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Grand Junction, CO 81507 79%1,620$107,528$515,500$298 younger residents · older homes
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 79%1,834$112,795$623,400$336 pricier homes ($132K more) · 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 78%219$97,948$639,400$351 pricier homes ($148K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Melbourne, FL 32934 78%493$104,369$416,100$241 cheaper homes ($75K less) · younger residents
Boynton Beach, FL 33472 78%599$101,959$446,200$256 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 6 min longer commute
Sarasota, FL 34241 78%573$116,412$564,600$267 pricier homes ($73K more) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 77%333$98,583$537,800$353 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Bradenton, FL 34202 77%564$121,659$660,000$303 pricier homes ($169K more) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Richfield, OH 44286 77%434$112,778$435,200$203 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · younger residents
Okatie, SC 29909 76%213$91,294$453,300$253 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Springfield, MO 65809 76%777$111,364$402,200$168 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · younger residents
Marana, AZ 85658 76%1,821$123,415$478,400$238 younger residents · 9 min longer commute · newer homes
Corrales, NM 87048 76%1,528$102,004$574,000$319 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller · younger residents
Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 75%672$110,450$607,900$424 pricier homes ($117K more) · smaller · older homes

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.