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 Vero Beach, FL 32962

Vero Beach: median income $66,664, home value $270,600, $178/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Guntersville, AL 35976 95%582$72,643$266,500$190 smaller
Burnsville, NC 28714 94%585$58,998$236,600$216 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Rutherfordton, NC 28139 93%546$56,558$240,200$185 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Newport, NC 28570 93%536$70,229$260,000$208 Very close on everything we compare
Piedmont, SC 29673 93%508$71,444$253,800$157 younger residents
Hartwell, GA 30643 93%491$61,596$235,100$187 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Blountville, TN 37617 93%629$64,764$247,700$178 smaller
Corydon, IN 47112 93%806$70,903$248,200$159 Very close on everything we compare
Mocksville, NC 27028 92%576$69,137$225,700$178 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Salisbury, NC 28146 92%555$69,279$247,700$189 younger residents
Fayetteville, NC 28312 92%518$67,754$218,000$154 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Granite Falls, NC 28630 92%570$63,835$202,400$172 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Anderson, SC 29625 92%499$61,960$223,500$172 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Eatonton, GA 31024 92%433$65,971$237,000$223 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 5 min longer commute
Jonesborough, TN 37659 92%614$71,110$249,600$208 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton, TN 37716 92%628$64,915$244,000$210 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Heath, OH 43056 92%866$80,014$253,900$193 younger residents
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 92%1,226$66,667$227,000$184 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Bedford, VA 24523 91%674$73,957$239,800$188 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Asheboro, NC 27205 91%557$65,167$215,300$188 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Smithfield, NC 27577 91%560$62,758$260,300$170 younger residents
Camden, SC 29020 91%462$64,648$240,100$153 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Cleveland, GA 30528 91%522$70,873$274,000$215 Very close on everything we compare
Foley, AL 36535 91%482$66,714$282,700$183 larger · newer homes
Waupaca, WI 54981 91%1,255$72,640$218,700$193 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller

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.