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 32534

Pensacola: median income $58,992, home value $219,400, $164/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Weatherford, TX 76086 95%637$60,578$258,100$199 pricier homes ($39K more)
Gulfport, MS 39507 93%105$54,657$217,800$145 Very close on everything we compare
Farmington, MO 63640 93%532$61,913$216,700$154 larger
Spartanburg, SC 29301 92%433$57,805$212,000$142 larger
Seneca, SC 29678 92%382$52,550$225,500$178 Very close on everything we compare
Dublin, GA 31021 92%288$55,697$182,700$128 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Indianapolis, IN 46229 92%644$61,388$191,100$137 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Loves Park, IL 61111 92%821$61,393$158,600$149 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Bay City, TX 77414 92%531$59,128$172,000$141 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Hickory, NC 28602 91%494$62,048$212,900$172 larger
Radcliff, KY 40160 91%510$58,506$165,900$142 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Gallup, NM 87301 91%1,287$58,772$168,500$149 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Petersburg, VA 23805 90%730$60,807$233,400$173 Very close on everything we compare
Sanford, NC 27330 90%580$61,300$242,700$160 larger
Rocky Mount, NC 27804 90%662$61,359$209,300$133 larger
Gastonia, NC 28054 90%483$61,035$245,100$174 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Havelock, NC 28532 90%675$60,605$218,000$172 younger residents · less walkable
Brunswick, GA 31525 90%345$69,493$216,300$186 larger
Athens, AL 35611 90%296$57,377$225,600$158 larger · 5 min longer commute
Jefferson City, TN 37760 90%444$66,190$238,200$184 Very close on everything we compare
Waite Park, MN 56387 90%1,103$59,009$232,200$169 smaller
Gretna, LA 70056 90%170$59,027$230,500$137 larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73135 90%678$63,478$175,700$138 cheaper homes ($44K less) · younger residents
Longview, TX 75604 90%464$67,942$200,600$143 larger
Waco, TX 76705 90%586$58,236$190,600$169 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger

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.