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 Decatur, GA 30034

Decatur: median income $63,517, home value $251,400, $135/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Merrillville, IN 46410 91%565$64,127$208,100$141 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Slidell, LA 70458 91%400$72,843$237,700$129 Very close on everything we compare
Stroudsburg, PA 18360 88%705$71,481$312,900$197 pricier homes ($62K more)
Houston, TX 77083 88%725$64,418$239,300$141 larger · younger residents
Deland, FL 32720 87%365$68,830$322,600$197 pricier homes ($71K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Winter Haven, FL 33881 87%418$57,024$194,700$163 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Winter Haven, FL 33884 87%423$70,443$286,500$165 pricier homes ($35K more)
Harvey, LA 70058 87%432$62,416$207,500$121 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Elizabeth City, NC 27909 86%487$66,732$234,600$188 7 min shorter commute
Pensacola, FL 32506 86%289$62,486$206,100$164 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Orange City, FL 32763 86%371$66,716$261,000$209 smaller
Dade City, FL 33525 85%389$69,068$260,200$185 smaller
Fort Myers, FL 33905 85%508$71,987$283,300$186 pricier homes ($32K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Desoto, TX 75115 85%733$82,782$319,400$150 pricier homes ($68K more)
Camden, SC 29020 84%213$64,648$240,100$153 smaller · less walkable
Orange Park, FL 32073 84%285$76,455$287,600$181 pricier homes ($36K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Deland, FL 32724 84%366$73,592$307,600$200 pricier homes ($56K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Bartow, FL 33830 84%426$63,918$228,900$178 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Country Club Hills, IL 60478 84%576$74,826$192,400$155 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Dade City, FL 33523 83%383$64,826$244,400$205 smaller
Athens, AL 35611 83%173$57,377$225,600$158 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Granbury, TX 76048 83%788$70,346$246,000$177 smaller · less walkable
Hanover, PA 17331 82%582$79,488$240,800$177 7 min shorter commute
Seaford, DE 19973 82%591$64,387$278,300$202 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Graham, NC 27253 82%320$62,774$235,800$176 7 min shorter commute · less walkable

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.