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.

Reset

Towns most like Hendersonville, NC 28739

Hendersonville: median income $73,582, home value $394,900, $273/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Berlin, MD 21811 92%455$90,082$388,900$265 Very close on everything we compare
Fredericksburg, TX 78624 91%1,011$75,237$463,300$284 pricier homes ($68K more)
Seneca, SC 29672 90%45$90,650$482,100$271 pricier homes ($87K more) · smaller
Easton, MD 21601 88%427$83,680$376,400$232 younger residents
Llano, TX 78643 88%985$68,365$362,600$239 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 88%1,369$84,270$486,000$342 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller · newer homes
Meredith, NH 03253 86%820$84,719$482,700$354 pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller
Saint Augustine, FL 32086 86%385$76,512$382,800$225 larger
South Haven, MI 49090 86%529$68,920$295,000$293 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller
Harbor Springs, MI 49740 86%717$89,250$363,500$312 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Prescott, AZ 86303 86%1,688$72,359$563,000$321 pricier homes ($168K more) · older residents
Sequim, WA 98382 86%2,242$74,189$493,900$308 pricier homes ($99K more) · older residents
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 85%444$77,083$358,500$217 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Chattanooga, TN 37419 85%163$74,787$351,800$245 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Loudon, TN 37774 85%107$87,718$365,100$253 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Chelsea, MI 48118 85%491$88,278$357,200$219 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · younger residents
Taos, NM 87571 85%1,292$57,575$458,900$359 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Boulder City, NV 89005 85%1,808$74,375$435,600$289 pricier homes ($41K more) · more walkable
Nevada City, CA 95959 85%2,116$86,524$627,100$324 pricier homes ($232K more)
Queensbury, NY 12804 84%726$89,127$311,400$248 cheaper homes ($84K less) · younger residents
Vero Beach, FL 32967 84%540$78,058$423,500$243 pricier homes ($29K more) · newer homes
Custer, SD 57730 84%1,251$83,469$378,800$279 smaller
Landisville, PA 17538 83%468$86,719$299,300$188 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller
Greensboro, GA 30642 83%127$95,527$496,400$262 pricier homes ($102K more) · newer homes
Lake Geneva, WI 53147 83%595$83,566$369,100$287 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents

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.