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 Jacksonville, FL 32224

Jacksonville: median income $88,259, home value $458,100, $265/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Collins, CO 80526 93%1,502$88,686$551,800$273 pricier homes ($94K more)
Nashville, TN 37209 92%511$81,423$529,800$333 pricier homes ($72K more)
Lawrence, KS 66049 92%987$90,147$393,400$190 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Durham, NC 27713 91%414$100,676$418,400$226 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Columbus, OH 43235 91%683$86,666$383,500$206 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 91%834$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Raleigh, NC 27612 90%415$95,988$529,000$261 pricier homes ($71K more)
Madison, WI 53719 89%985$92,052$367,000$242 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Carrollton, TX 75010 89%926$107,317$484,800$241 pricier homes ($27K more)
Broomfield, CO 80021 89%1,487$110,038$568,000$292 pricier homes ($110K more)
Fort Collins, CO 80524 89%1,501$85,035$561,400$274 pricier homes ($103K more)
Lexington, KY 40509 88%559$94,804$366,300$191 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Westerville, OH 43081 88%683$92,422$329,800$209 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 88%988$97,051$379,500$224 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Grapevine, TX 76051 88%937$111,160$489,400$258 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents
Austin, TX 78729 88%973$86,438$476,200$229 more renters
Raleigh, NC 27603 87%407$90,484$383,200$209 cheaper homes ($75K less) · 6 min longer commute
Durham, NC 27707 87%417$74,406$407,800$249 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28210 87%335$100,824$531,700$315 pricier homes ($74K more) · older homes
Greenville, SC 29607 87%317$74,503$359,500$194 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Baton Rouge, LA 70809 87%575$79,967$324,000$182 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller
Fort Collins, CO 80525 87%1,499$91,636$588,400$265 pricier homes ($130K more)
Smyrna, GA 30080 86%305$91,957$450,400$227 6 min longer commute
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 86%301$79,309$486,800$210 pricier homes ($29K more)
Auburn, AL 36830 86%284$70,188$367,700$219 cheaper homes ($90K 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.