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 Cropwell, AL 35054

Cropwell: median income $77,929, home value $347,700, $211/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Frederica, DE 19946 96%713$80,459$302,800$201 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Jackson Springs, NC 27281 95%396$74,547$292,400$193 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Appling, GA 30802 93%231$85,625$322,000$215 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 6 min longer commute
Stokesdale, NC 27357 92%405$75,287$295,000$193 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Grand Island, FL 32735 92%419$68,441$273,300$166 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Whitewood, SD 57793 92%1,194$87,351$368,800$219 smaller
Carmel, ME 04419 91%1,206$82,188$256,800$231 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Hardy, VA 24101 91%445$87,112$314,500$232 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Mount Ulla, NC 28125 91%349$85,739$360,700$183 smaller
Sturgeon Lake, MN 55783 91%952$82,421$267,000$157 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Pillager, MN 56473 91%986$85,950$295,300$203 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Shepherd, MT 59079 91%1,444$68,047$376,300$248 pricier homes ($29K more)
Casa Grande, AZ 85194 91%1,461$82,935$350,400$216 larger · older residents
Mims, FL 32754 90%463$75,364$271,300$229 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Harmony, PA 16037 89%609$93,077$348,200$205 Very close on everything we compare
Renfrew, PA 16053 89%611$76,054$297,500$218 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents
Iron Station, NC 28080 89%325$71,997$268,500$200 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Bolivia, NC 28422 89%468$69,412$295,200$195 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Talking Rock, GA 30175 89%125$69,737$332,700$244 6 min longer commute
Walland, TN 37886 89%208$82,009$261,700$266 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Minot, ME 04258 88%1,126$95,655$294,900$208 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Stockton Springs, ME 04981 88%1,201$77,560$239,000$223 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Nottingham, PA 19362 88%712$89,302$359,700$196 younger residents
Belews Creek, NC 27009 88%398$76,469$280,400$173 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Catawba, SC 29704 88%320$74,303$243,800$240 cheaper homes ($104K 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.