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 Macon, GA 31201

Macon: median income $29,420, home value $171,400, $88/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
South Bend, IN 46601 90%629$30,789$145,000$96 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · older residents
Toledo, OH 43620 84%612$23,483$131,300$67 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45214 79%439$27,852$100,500$93 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45232 79%443$28,367$130,500$87 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Rochester, NY 14608 77%785$40,646$187,000$97 larger · more walkable
Montgomery, AL 36104 77%160$33,823$172,700$104 7 min shorter commute · more walkable · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45229 76%441$32,263$285,900$133 pricier homes ($115K more) · larger · older residents
Kalamazoo, MI 49007 76%665$39,344$111,300$106 cheaper homes ($60K less) · younger residents
Columbus, OH 43222 75%495$32,321$228,300$140 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · more walkable
Buffalo, NY 14207 72%746$39,753$133,600$103 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Rochester, NY 14613 72%787$37,778$120,600$84 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Albany, NY 12206 71%867$41,548$162,300$112 larger · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Detroit, MI 48202 70%662$43,627$186,500$123 larger
Louisville, KY 40203 69%395$30,794$197,300$145 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · more walkable
Detroit, MI 48214 69%661$33,544$147,300$113 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
North Little Rock, AR 72114 69%514$30,175$130,000$85 cheaper homes ($41K less) · newer homes
Detroit, MI 48208 68%660$36,194$176,400$195 more walkable
Memphis, TN 38107 67%402$35,265$152,000$83 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14211 66%745$36,300$106,400$99 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · more homeowners
Louisville, KY 40208 66%393$39,560$188,900$136 larger · younger residents · more walkable
Detroit, MI 48216 66%658$44,335$242,600$106 pricier homes ($71K more) · more walkable
Duluth, MN 55806 66%1,064$42,833$161,400$150 more homeowners
Syracuse, NY 13204 65%814$45,351$113,000$106 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · more walkable
Roanoke, VA 24016 65%371$46,512$119,700$129 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more walkable
Canton, OH 44703 65%566$31,957$81,200$88 cheaper homes ($90K less) · more single-family 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.