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 Huntsville, AL 35810

Huntsville: median income $51,233, home value $150,100, $136/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shawnee, OK 74801 95%586$55,077$137,900$119 Very close on everything we compare
Topeka, KS 66605 93%578$59,106$170,500$126 smaller
Chickasha, OK 73018 93%643$56,484$141,400$122 smaller
El Reno, OK 73036 92%643$59,915$172,500$142 smaller
Muskogee, OK 74403 92%497$56,689$157,900$122 Very close on everything we compare
South Bend, IN 46628 91%479$61,759$182,200$133 pricier homes ($32K more)
Kansas City, MO 64138 91%521$58,638$188,400$142 pricier homes ($38K more)
Springfield, MO 65803 91%411$50,572$173,500$149 Very close on everything we compare
Hammond, IN 46323 90%473$59,688$166,400$138 Very close on everything we compare
Richmond, IN 47374 90%362$50,766$130,700$124 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64134 90%522$58,170$156,400$141 Very close on everything we compare
Mexico, MO 65265 90%421$56,969$152,600$138 smaller
Moberly, MO 65270 90%454$48,351$159,300$144 smaller
Sedalia, MO 65301 90%456$58,064$164,300$142 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73115 90%614$46,810$123,000$136 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Miami, OK 74354 90%485$50,818$127,600$108 smaller
Mcalester, OK 74501 90%519$57,922$164,000$122 Very close on everything we compare
Buena Vista, VA 24416 89%453$54,882$158,600$150 smaller
Ashland, KY 41101 89%337$53,889$121,600$101 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Ironton, OH 45638 89%339$52,728$119,000$121 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Anderson, IN 46012 89%374$58,041$159,600$126 smaller · older residents
Michigan City, IN 46360 89%478$59,266$167,300$157 Very close on everything we compare
Warren, MI 48089 89%566$52,366$122,100$123 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Muskegon, MI 49444 89%581$53,054$165,900$165 Very close on everything we compare
Westwego, LA 70094 89%397$53,597$159,700$136 Very close on everything we compare

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.