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 Green Sea, SC 29545

Green Sea: median income $42,083, home value $126,700, $192/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nakina, NC 28455 94%18$37,760$117,800$187 Very close on everything we compare
Fisher, WV 26818 91%339$42,173$129,200$194 Very close on everything we compare
Glenwood, AR 71943 88%833$44,904$121,800$164 larger
Enigma, GA 31749 87%320$38,487$95,100— cheaper homes ($32K less)
Campti, LA 71411 86%833$37,500$126,500$159 5 min longer commute
Helenwood, TN 37755 85%351$46,238$159,000$228 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Norlina, NC 27563 84%165$36,287$95,900$159 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older residents
Blythe, GA 30805 83%196$52,676$121,600$163 more homeowners
Axson, GA 31624 83%295$50,903$95,200— cheaper homes ($32K less)
Buena Vista, GA 31803 83%346$45,189$104,900$138 larger
Rose Hill, NC 28458 82%70$40,338$115,500$141 larger
Saint James, LA 70086 82%752$35,739$96,400— cheaper homes ($30K less)
Dozier, AL 36028 81%468$48,750$142,900$235 more single-family homes
Arlington, GA 39813 81%384$47,634$112,100— 6 min shorter commute
Oil City, LA 71061 81%871$35,536$113,200$142 Very close on everything we compare
Tenaha, TX 75974 81%898$47,292$91,300— cheaper homes ($35K less) · more homeowners
Waterflow, NM 87421 81%1,666$51,029$122,800— more homeowners
Salt Rock, WV 25559 80%341$34,727$131,300$181 older residents · more homeowners
Grifton, NC 28530 80%121$37,361$151,300$178 larger · older residents
Celina, TN 38551 80%403$39,821$116,700$244 larger · older residents
Timpson, TX 75975 80%907$44,297$96,900— cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · more homeowners
Elliston, VA 24087 79%222$41,204$155,100$172 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Pelham, NC 27311 79%163$39,044$128,200$141 larger · more single-family homes
Hollister, NC 27844 79%156$39,076$105,200— larger · more homeowners
New Church, VA 23415 78%325$46,836$177,800$206 pricier homes ($51K 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.