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 Alpharetta, GA 30005

Alpharetta: median income $176,957, home value $636,300, $236/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glen Allen, VA 23059 92%450$157,897$593,700$238 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Cary, NC 27519 91%325$165,586$670,900$267 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Coppell, TX 75019 91%738$141,923$559,500$266 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($77K less)
Wexford, PA 15090 90%506$160,576$476,400$243 cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller
Malvern, PA 19355 89%632$169,417$692,300$315 pricier homes ($56K more) · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55446 89%902$170,625$583,500$210 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more homeowners
Allen, TX 75013 89%719$146,891$590,700$223 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($46K less)
Plano, TX 75025 89%722$143,260$486,100$206 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($150K less)
Naperville, IL 60540 88%572$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($86K less) · older homes
Austin, TX 78732 88%838$192,500$853,900$276 pricier homes ($218K more) · smaller
Littleton, CO 80130 88%1,202$158,741$691,800$235 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Leesburg, VA 20175 87%502$174,854$780,600$285 pricier homes ($144K more)
Carmel, IN 46032 87%420$132,085$496,800$218 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($140K less)
New Albany, OH 43054 86%422$148,100$510,600$234 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller
Spring, TX 77382 86%712$162,384$566,500$222 cheaper homes ($70K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Broomfield, CO 80023 86%1,213$158,180$869,000$262 pricier homes ($233K more) · smaller · newer homes
Littleton, CO 80129 86%1,207$141,667$663,800$266 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($28K more)
Apex, NC 27502 85%326$143,922$550,900$241 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($85K less) · more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28270 85%210$131,667$589,500$271 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($47K less)
Dublin, OH 43017 85%421$135,922$523,500$226 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($113K less)
Lewis Center, OH 43035 85%428$154,683$456,400$210 cheaper homes ($180K less)
Frisco, TX 75033 85%730$174,762$652,100$228 Very close on everything we compare
Littleton, CO 80126 85%1,205$169,882$782,000$267 pricier homes ($146K more) · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97229 85%2,171$161,570$782,100$309 pricier homes ($146K more) · larger · more walkable
Apex, NC 27523 84%326$135,625$659,300$252 lower income ($41K less) · smaller

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.