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 Pensacola, FL 32501

Pensacola: median income $44,139, home value $287,900, $228/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Antonio, TX 78202 91%676$47,478$234,700$173 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Houston, TX 77023 89%486$51,430$302,300$188 larger
Portsmouth, VA 23707 87%766$48,926$230,800$178 cheaper homes ($57K less) · less walkable
North Charleston, SC 29405 83%457$56,600$307,800$284 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Savannah, GA 31404 83%382$53,303$215,500$209 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Knoxville, TN 37917 83%430$54,423$219,200$227 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55103 83%1,054$48,390$257,500$205 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
New Orleans, LA 70117 81%170$45,764$260,000$162 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · older homes
Hampton, VA 23663 80%775$54,336$202,300$191 cheaper homes ($86K less) · less walkable
Portsmouth, VA 23704 80%767$49,583$230,300$175 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Birmingham, AL 35212 80%217$36,633$232,100$188 cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents
New Orleans, LA 70114 80%171$43,493$206,700$150 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
New Orleans, LA 70122 80%172$49,455$283,900$161 larger
Houston, TX 77021 80%489$45,574$227,900$152 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Tucson, AZ 85711 80%1,399$56,121$280,300$213 larger
Atlanta, GA 30310 79%281$53,037$340,300$195 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30314 79%283$42,089$251,700$191 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · younger residents
Dallas, TX 75215 79%584$45,557$190,100$172 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · more renters
Houston, TX 77022 79%489$52,739$219,200$183 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Gretna, LA 70053 78%173$39,950$241,300$148 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · less walkable
San Antonio, TX 78201 78%680$47,121$197,800$172 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Westville, NJ 08093 77%943$64,104$213,200$232 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Chesapeake, VA 23324 77%769$57,045$251,800$193 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · younger residents
Wilmington, NC 28401 77%602$57,968$298,500$270 larger · 7 min shorter commute
La Crosse, WI 54603 77%953$52,012$181,900$173 cheaper homes ($106K less) · 8 min shorter commute

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.