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 Franklin, NC 28734

Franklin: median income $54,021, home value $228,500, $223/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Greeneville, TN 37743 94%72$54,566$214,800$181 Very close on everything we compare
Sparta, TN 38583 94%127$54,644$207,800$204 Very close on everything we compare
Hartwell, GA 30643 93%63$61,596$235,100$187 smaller
Lake Placid, FL 33852 92%558$54,284$213,500$198 older residents
Clinton, TN 37716 92%77$64,915$244,000$210 younger residents
Greeneville, TN 37745 92%80$57,159$214,300$180 younger residents
Crossville, TN 38571 92%109$58,498$227,300$219 smaller
Anderson, SC 29625 91%59$61,960$223,500$172 younger residents
Cadiz, KY 42211 91%272$59,804$210,000$165 smaller
Camdenton, MO 65020 91%556$62,392$265,200$231 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Grove, OK 74344 91%643$58,125$221,400$182 smaller
Vero Beach, FL 32962 90%553$66,664$270,600$178 pricier homes ($42K more)
Blountville, TN 37617 90%110$64,764$247,700$178 smaller
Georgetown, SC 29440 89%262$56,124$172,600$211 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 6 min longer commute
Westminster, SC 29693 89%36$54,503$167,900$192 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Monticello, FL 32344 89%323$61,199$247,400$183 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Smithville, TN 37166 89%145$52,797$224,300$209 smaller · younger residents
Athens, TN 37303 89%71$62,078$232,100$173 younger residents
Madisonville, TN 37354 89%58$54,550$231,800$213 smaller · younger residents
Winchester, TN 37398 89%154$63,730$247,800$200 smaller
Mountain City, TN 37683 89%125$55,979$177,000$196 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Oakland, MD 21550 88%369$64,921$233,300$196 smaller
Anderson, SC 29626 88%61$56,196$171,300$194 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · younger residents
Lake City, FL 32024 88%353$60,811$218,300$205 Very close on everything we compare
Port Saint Lucie, FL 34952 88%575$61,628$282,200$223 pricier homes ($54K more)

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.