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 Lake Wales, FL 33853

Lake Wales: median income $44,474, home value $209,300, $144/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Warner Robins, GA 31093 92%349$45,991$157,100$130 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Spartanburg, SC 29306 91%484$41,356$177,500$152 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents
Savannah, GA 31408 91%292$45,839$169,700$159 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Phenix City, AL 36867 91%378$48,026$207,600$148 larger
Forest City, NC 28043 90%513$42,276$175,400$153 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Lagrange, GA 30241 90%407$49,053$201,800$150 larger
Cordele, GA 31015 90%310$44,452$148,600$128 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Sinton, TX 78387 90%972$53,048$166,300$152 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Nogales, AZ 85621 90%1,774$43,464$193,200$141 larger
Asheboro, NC 27203 89%551$46,336$156,300$145 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Maysville, KY 41056 89%752$47,141$164,800$135 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46816 89%928$45,343$157,700$153 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Grandview, MO 64030 89%1,062$53,216$188,800$149 larger
Martinsburg, WV 25401 88%825$51,909$229,200$173 older homes
Winston-Salem, NC 27105 88%575$44,080$168,400$155 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Macon, GA 31211 88%365$49,202$168,100$131 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Moultrie, GA 31768 88%262$46,858$143,800$141 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Tifton, GA 31794 88%272$46,056$130,100$123 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Cleveland, TN 37311 88%536$47,153$226,800$195 larger
Shreveport, LA 71118 88%793$50,287$170,600$113 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Muskogee, OK 74401 88%977$42,294$149,300$110 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Haltom City, TX 76117 88%994$51,670$211,700$186 larger
San Antonio, TX 78219 88%1,021$52,094$162,000$133 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Pueblo, CO 81001 88%1,506$48,417$220,200$156 larger
Roxboro, NC 27573 87%607$45,736$175,000$167 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents

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.