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 Waco, GA 30182

Waco: median income $60,184, home value $253,100, $165/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clarkson, KY 42726 94%265$60,078$204,200$183 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Hinckley, MN 55037 93%944$68,380$230,700$170 Very close on everything we compare
Dover, TN 37058 92%246$58,871$215,100$167 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Ramona, OK 74061 92%635$58,929$225,700$159 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Duncanville, AL 35456 91%135$56,574$202,300$172 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Lafitte, LA 70067 91%397$63,125$212,300$133 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Porter, OK 74454 91%603$61,955$201,700$147 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Arizona City, AZ 85123 91%1,526$69,137$250,000$178 larger
Max Meadows, VA 24360 90%329$54,792$210,600$157 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Cleveland, NC 27013 90%293$66,301$212,400$179 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Hiddenite, NC 28636 90%284$65,435$225,100$159 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Boston, KY 40107 90%281$60,398$204,000$159 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Glencoe, KY 41046 90%349$63,250$226,900$157 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Highlands, TX 77562 90%635$57,364$217,700$155 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Delmar, DE 19940 89%632$65,024$235,300$152 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Hurlock, MD 21643 89%624$67,219$230,000$183 Very close on everything we compare
Moravian Falls, NC 28654 89%283$57,438$228,700$182 Very close on everything we compare
East Palatka, FL 32131 89%350$69,416$233,100$182 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, AL 35049 89%80$65,644$190,600$163 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Thorsby, AL 35171 89%101$71,875$181,900$163 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Caryville, TN 37714 89%190$56,172$227,600$164 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 8 min shorter commute
New Market, TN 37820 89%190$66,616$204,600$183 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Parrottsville, TN 37843 89%201$58,021$180,400$191 cheaper homes ($73K less) · less walkable
Sonora, KY 42776 89%268$58,771$192,700$139 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Braham, MN 55006 89%932$69,191$223,200$169 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older homes

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.