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 Atlanta, GA 30319

Atlanta: median income $130,648, home value $762,500, $301/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fairfax, VA 22030 92%520$139,831$740,400$347 Very close on everything we compare
Herndon, VA 20171 91%520$171,372$797,200$331 higher income ($41K more) · pricier homes ($35K more)
Lone Tree, CO 80124 90%1,201$129,858$773,900$272 smaller
Charlotte, NC 28211 88%221$132,917$774,900$360 older homes
Franklin, TN 37067 86%197$111,759$756,300$313 Very close on everything we compare
Englewood, CO 80112 86%1,202$108,874$659,200$282 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Fairfax, VA 22033 85%518$143,454$648,800$355 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Rockville, MD 20850 84%537$125,950$714,400$331 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78759 84%820$102,400$674,000$332 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($89K less)
Englewood, CO 80111 84%1,201$135,995$916,500$314 pricier homes ($154K more) · older residents
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 83%535$144,313$715,800$302 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Columbia, MD 21044 83%554$135,057$566,500$250 cheaper homes ($196K less)
Charlotte, NC 28277 83%216$128,627$560,600$269 cheaper homes ($202K less) · larger
Plano, TX 75093 83%720$124,563$670,500$259 cheaper homes ($92K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77008 83%708$143,229$642,600$296 cheaper homes ($120K less) · more single-family homes · more walkable
Davis, CA 95618 83%2,096$115,591$867,400$483 pricier homes ($105K more) · smaller
Exton, PA 19341 82%642$121,680$509,300$249 cheaper homes ($253K less) · smaller
Plano, TX 75024 82%719$117,088$598,600$235 cheaper homes ($164K less) · more renters
Irving, TX 75063 82%731$117,133$559,900$225 cheaper homes ($203K less) · more renters
Fairfax, VA 22031 81%523$134,577$723,600$356 cheaper homes ($39K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Lafayette, CO 80026 81%1,219$120,187$705,600$310 cheaper homes ($57K less) · more single-family homes
Ellicott City, MD 21043 80%559$148,125$620,900$272 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Cary, NC 27513 80%341$121,989$519,800$258 cheaper homes ($243K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Naperville, IL 60563 80%586$109,783$435,600$271 cheaper homes ($327K less)
Houston, TX 77079 80%719$101,995$679,900$339 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($83K 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.