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 Harrells, NC 28444

Harrells: median income $44,330, home value $206,700, $213/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elliston, VA 24087 91%208$41,204$155,100$172 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Helenwood, TN 37755 90%374$46,238$159,000$228 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Pineville, MO 64856 89%914$45,513$186,100$165 larger
Green Bay, VA 23942 88%169$51,505$211,700$192 smaller
Valdosta, GA 31606 86%393$50,303$206,400$173 larger · more homeowners
Lockbourne, OH 43137 86%440$49,145$218,200$183 Very close on everything we compare
Kirbyville, MO 65679 86%845$48,442$182,900$172 6 min longer commute
Hogansburg, NY 13655 85%737$52,309$191,100— Very close on everything we compare
Wagener, SC 29164 85%194$49,440$177,400$186 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · younger residents
Windsor, SC 29856 85%205$50,395$151,000$226 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more homeowners
Pangburn, AR 72121 85%768$44,221$175,900$205 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more homeowners
Boston, GA 31626 84%420$52,026$200,000$184 older residents
Climax, GA 39834 84%446$47,708$153,900— cheaper homes ($53K less) · more single-family homes
Buhl, AL 35446 83%554$39,313$158,200$176 cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents
Decatur, AR 72722 83%918$54,838$230,200$228 more renters
Wyandotte, OK 74370 83%933$52,535$153,700$244 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more single-family homes
Mills, WY 82644 83%1,608$53,750$175,900— cheaper homes ($31K less) · more walkable
Whitesburg, TN 37891 82%297$47,288$174,900$181 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 9 min longer commute
Gordonsville, TN 38563 82%449$50,313$241,300$338 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents
Goodman, MO 64843 82%916$55,492$152,700$143 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Welling, OK 74471 82%940$45,948$156,700$178 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Mc Alpin, FL 32062 81%417$58,313$246,500$176 pricier homes ($40K more) · 8 min longer commute
Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 81%466$48,921$179,700$172 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · older residents
Flora Vista, NM 87415 81%1,673$44,095$219,100$234 older residents
Waterflow, NM 87421 81%1,697$51,029$122,800— cheaper homes ($84K less) · 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.