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 Bear Creek, AL 35543

Bear Creek: median income $29,196, home value $97,200, $82/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gibsland, LA 71028 88%328$36,394$93,600— Very close on everything we compare
Morgan, GA 39866 87%257$31,023$92,000— larger · 5 min longer commute · more renters
Rupert, WV 25984 86%474$27,183$82,100$110 larger · 5 min longer commute
Anguilla, MS 38721 86%196$31,385$81,300— Very close on everything we compare
Boley, OK 74829 86%503$29,583$81,900— larger · more single-family homes
Preston, GA 31824 85%234$31,742$87,100$108 older residents
Henry, TN 38231 85%146$37,188$88,100$120 larger
Wallins Creek, KY 40873 85%304$33,359$88,900$102 larger · 7 min longer commute
Skidmore, TX 78389 84%718$37,195$86,200$118 larger
Jeffersonville, GA 31044 83%270$35,152$98,300$111 larger · older residents
Ola, AR 72853 83%317$35,262$98,100$108 larger · older residents
Spearsville, LA 71277 82%291$26,686$80,200$68 more renters
Potts Camp, MS 38659 81%95$39,593$85,800$95 larger · newer homes
Belle Rose, LA 70341 81%345$35,346$88,500$100 larger · 5 min longer commute
Altus, AR 72821 81%353$37,083$100,000$97 larger · more single-family homes
Batesville, TX 78829 80%786$28,517$73,400— younger residents
Rowesville, SC 29133 79%400$36,987$136,400— pricier homes ($39K more)
Alamo, GA 30411 78%319$30,238$103,900$112 larger · younger residents
Shellman, GA 39886 78%246$35,395$99,500$119 more renters
Jenkins, KY 41537 78%354$35,673$76,200$78 larger · older residents
Caraway, AR 72419 78%184$41,017$93,300$95 more single-family homes
Oilton, OK 74052 78%517$31,786$89,500$114 younger residents · more renters
Oglethorpe, GA 31068 77%248$30,352$69,400— cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · more renters
Charlotte, TX 78011 77%742$29,664$118,300$146 larger · more homeowners
San Luis, CO 81152 77%1,015$31,875$120,300$64 more single-family homes

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.