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 Union Springs, AL 36089

Union Springs: median income $24,109, home value $73,000, $210/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pine Knot, KY 42635 87%322$24,412$91,300$167 smaller
Richland, GA 31825 84%61$28,698$73,100— smaller
Oglethorpe, GA 31068 82%96$30,352$69,400— smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Norlina, NC 27563 74%523$36,287$95,900$159 Very close on everything we compare
Vance, SC 29163 73%317$33,971$68,000$256 smaller
Morgan, GA 39866 71%78$31,023$92,000— smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Booneville, KY 41314 71%388$25,911$98,500$134 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Starks, LA 70661 71%486$24,917$83,700$138 smaller · older residents
Gresham, SC 29546 70%388$32,043$97,100— smaller · more single-family homes
Mount Vernon, GA 30445 70%183$32,392$76,100$167 smaller · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Ashburn, GA 31714 70%124$33,287$94,200$146 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Hermanville, MS 39086 69%301$25,833$55,700— smaller · younger residents · more homeowners
Holly Hill, SC 29059 68%319$38,698$85,000$181 smaller · more homeowners
Clio, SC 29525 68%394$28,618$70,200— smaller · more single-family homes · older homes
Enfield, NC 27823 67%536$34,940$89,800$106 Very close on everything we compare
Niland, CA 92257 67%1,738$22,611$102,200— pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · older residents
Anderson, SC 29624 66%239$30,549$76,900$150 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Flat Lick, KY 40935 66%342$23,157$41,700$124 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · younger residents
Campton, KY 41301 66%406$33,984$82,100$385 more single-family homes
Greensburg, LA 70441 66%308$39,438$68,900$190 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Shiprock, NM 87420 65%1,345$36,335$103,900— pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Salt Rock, WV 25559 64%470$34,727$131,300$181 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Maxton, NC 28364 64%410$34,178$82,700$113 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Mullins, SC 29574 64%400$34,112$87,200$104 more single-family homes
Pamplico, SC 29583 64%377$34,931$114,100$154 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute

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.