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 Portal, GA 30450

Portal: median income $60,900, home value $153,100, $154/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hollywood, AL 35752 94%277$58,977$162,300$147 Very close on everything we compare
Upton, KY 42784 94%407$68,699$178,100$153 pricier homes ($25K more)
Colbert, OK 74733 93%847$65,875$162,100$123 Very close on everything we compare
Steens, MS 39766 92%378$65,707$162,700— Very close on everything we compare
North Lewisburg, OH 43060 92%538$62,014$170,300$178 Very close on everything we compare
Wortham, TX 76693 92%850$55,645$176,100$149 Very close on everything we compare
Mayesville, SC 29104 91%137$67,096$157,800$133 smaller
Mason, TN 38049 91%481$59,500$161,300$192 larger
Salemburg, NC 28385 90%262$66,860$145,800$189 Very close on everything we compare
Sylvania, AL 35988 90%263$53,684$158,500$195 Very close on everything we compare
Conway, MO 65632 90%703$57,656$212,400$160 pricier homes ($59K more)
Morris, OK 74445 90%824$67,875$189,700$123 pricier homes ($37K more)
Fremont, NC 27830 89%307$54,129$162,900$160 larger · older homes
Marionville, MO 65705 89%732$61,000$166,800$116 larger
Star, NC 27356 88%233$55,347$164,400$152 6 min shorter commute
Harrogate, TN 37752 88%294$60,028$193,600$198 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Walls, MS 38680 88%500$59,503$220,400$168 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Munfordville, KY 42765 88%398$59,688$143,600$158 larger
Cromwell, IN 46732 88%642$58,906$174,800$166 Very close on everything we compare
Maysville, MO 64469 88%858$62,059$154,000$132 Very close on everything we compare
Mangham, LA 71259 88%576$58,958$145,300$142 more homeowners
Lake City, AR 72437 88%537$60,714$160,300$133 5 min shorter commute
Holliday, TX 76366 88%973$56,034$156,700$167 more homeowners
Albright, WV 26519 87%501$54,328$128,500$178 Very close on everything we compare
Jamesville, NC 27846 87%363$55,147$99,300— cheaper homes ($54K less)

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.