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 Marble, NC 28905

Marble: median income $57,708, home value $228,200, $171/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pearcy, AR 71964 93%530$56,514$177,400$160 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Naylor, GA 31641 92%297$59,783$201,000$179 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Benton, MO 63736 92%341$59,414$168,700$154 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Choudrant, LA 71227 92%524$64,195$255,800$187 pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents
Mayflower, AR 72106 92%479$65,800$205,100$149 larger
Aiken, SC 29805 91%165$56,185$191,900$188 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Valdosta, GA 31606 91%304$50,303$206,400$173 Very close on everything we compare
Carrabelle, FL 32322 91%367$61,955$239,400$205 Very close on everything we compare
Riceville, TN 37370 91%45$61,125$222,100$198 larger · younger residents
Diamond, MO 64840 91%594$65,000$225,600$147 Very close on everything we compare
Grantsville, MD 21536 89%408$64,205$201,300$165 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older homes
Mineral Wells, WV 26150 89%310$61,786$172,500$146 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Reedsville, WV 26547 89%377$76,084$204,000$178 Very close on everything we compare
Ridge Spring, SC 29129 89%157$61,103$147,700$172 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Flintstone, GA 30725 89%81$49,699$218,100$150 larger
Scottsboro, AL 35769 89%126$55,687$210,700$165 larger
Stockton, MO 65785 89%576$50,086$175,000$153 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Honey Grove, TX 75446 89%691$52,460$238,800$240 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, TX 78934 89%825$58,302$234,500$161 larger
Norridgewock, ME 04957 88%994$65,931$179,100$157 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Mardela Springs, MD 21837 88%508$62,880$227,400$182 more single-family homes
Dunnellon, FL 34433 88%433$58,946$239,400$164 larger · 5 min longer commute
Monteagle, TN 37356 88%107$59,026$298,300$264 pricier homes ($70K more)
Afton, TN 37616 88%100$67,662$208,900$196 larger
Abbeville, MS 38601 88%316$47,941$190,000$147 cheaper homes ($38K 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.