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 Buford, GA 30519

Buford: median income $102,553, home value $413,000, $182/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 96%309$110,017$414,000$205 Very close on everything we compare
Indian Trail, NC 28079 95%199$100,516$395,700$193 Very close on everything we compare
Rowlett, TX 75089 95%731$118,318$382,400$177 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Wylie, TX 75098 95%729$122,089$401,500$188 Very close on everything we compare
Burleson, TX 76028 95%779$101,138$327,100$176 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Tomball, TX 77375 95%738$102,488$332,300$172 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Goodyear, AZ 85338 95%1,630$101,744$436,300$226 Very close on everything we compare
Arlington, TX 76001 94%769$105,311$352,700$171 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Mansfield, TX 76063 94%769$118,946$411,800$182 Very close on everything we compare
Magnolia, TX 77354 94%729$112,504$397,300$162 Very close on everything we compare
Richmond, TX 77469 94%760$102,125$327,200$155 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Pearland, TX 77581 94%735$111,139$338,000$166 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Schertz, TX 78154 94%897$100,572$318,700$163 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Buda, TX 78610 94%859$119,698$408,000$175 Very close on everything we compare
Clayton, NC 27527 93%333$115,035$390,200$179 smaller
Navarre, FL 32566 93%306$105,551$385,100$223 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Land O Lakes, FL 34639 93%414$101,486$383,500$211 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Spring Hill, TN 37174 93%203$105,181$491,300$236 pricier homes ($78K more)
Wentzville, MO 63385 93%504$112,199$347,200$189 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Cedar Hill, TX 75104 93%758$102,875$304,200$168 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Red Oak, TX 75154 93%751$100,388$345,500$177 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Crowley, TX 76036 93%782$97,973$319,300$169 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller
Fort Worth, TX 76131 93%777$108,694$343,100$174 cheaper homes ($70K less)
San Antonio, TX 78253 93%926$106,373$360,000$155 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Hutto, TX 78634 93%833$114,426$375,200$172 cheaper homes ($38K 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.