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 Ridgeway, SC 29130

Ridgeway: median income $63,963, home value $265,500, $273/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gravois Mills, MO 65037 91%716$66,360$284,100$256 5 min shorter commute
Yantis, TX 75497 91%845$56,205$212,800$212 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Morganton, GA 30560 90%191$66,016$321,300$271 pricier homes ($56K more)
Mcgregor, MN 55760 90%1,067$59,474$274,600$276 smaller · older homes
Shingletown, CA 96088 90%2,267$65,958$292,000$202 pricier homes ($27K more)
Shell Knob, MO 65747 89%731$55,060$289,900$250 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Hiawassee, GA 30546 88%164$59,234$295,000$248 pricier homes ($30K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Wedowee, AL 36278 88%270$58,214$261,000$240 younger residents
Holcombe, WI 54745 88%928$67,891$255,200$252 smaller
Isle, MN 56342 88%1,050$63,295$246,500$269 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Afton, OK 74331 88%804$61,272$204,500$218 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Chiloquin, OR 97624 88%2,258$48,628$233,000$248 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Willis, VA 24380 87%178$57,778$224,400$264 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · younger residents
Whitehall, MT 59759 87%1,816$60,571$353,900$335 pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller
Eureka Springs, AR 72631 87%737$56,678$259,300$169 Very close on everything we compare
Hertford, NC 27944 86%287$67,938$236,900$186 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · younger residents
Melrose, FL 32666 86%323$68,765$218,000$222 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Floral City, FL 34436 86%394$55,802$221,600$214 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Fort Pierce, FL 34951 86%469$63,122$244,900$189 larger
La Pine, OR 97739 86%2,249$58,579$370,500$286 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger · younger residents
Clarksville, VA 23927 85%208$70,938$295,500$198 pricier homes ($30K more)
Lowgap, NC 27024 85%151$62,813$188,600$191 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Arapahoe, NC 28510 85%239$58,839$264,100$240 smaller
Maggie Valley, NC 28751 85%148$69,057$313,500$292 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Rising Fawn, GA 30738 85%262$66,080$284,700$224 smaller · 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.