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 Chapel Hill, TN 37034

Chapel Hill: median income $88,275, home value $347,100, $219/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clayton, DE 19938 94%652$99,596$381,000$196 pricier homes ($34K more)
Ruckersville, VA 22968 94%491$88,929$357,300$235 Very close on everything we compare
South Mills, NC 27976 93%582$91,314$349,800$206 smaller
Sorrento, FL 32776 93%560$100,573$410,100$224 pricier homes ($63K more)
Trevor, WI 53179 93%482$94,460$305,800$221 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Isanti, MN 55040 93%761$90,900$314,000$190 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Becker, MN 55308 93%774$106,510$337,500$193 Very close on everything we compare
Locust, NC 28097 92%353$76,594$314,400$174 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Monroe, GA 30656 92%210$93,428$355,100$197 larger
Taylorsville, KY 40071 92%181$98,528$329,000$184 larger
Lonsdale, MN 55046 92%705$95,912$359,000$176 Very close on everything we compare
Lula, GA 30554 91%191$91,619$305,300$198 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Nesbit, MS 38651 91%195$98,760$328,000$174 Very close on everything we compare
Fowlerville, MI 48836 91%505$90,592$276,800$187 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Middleville, MI 49333 91%492$89,214$324,700$203 6 min shorter commute
North Branch, MN 55056 91%758$95,679$331,300$208 larger · older residents
Princeton, MN 55371 91%776$93,824$327,200$210 larger
Hillsboro, MO 63050 91%281$87,371$288,200$206 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Wright City, MO 63390 91%325$82,351$268,200$233 cheaper homes ($79K less) · older residents
Clever, MO 65631 91%388$86,875$247,700$187 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Nottingham, PA 19362 90%647$89,302$359,700$196 older residents
Woodford, VA 22580 90%538$93,603$353,800$248 smaller · older residents
Stanfield, NC 28163 90%353$72,386$313,900$195 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Lyman, SC 29365 90%260$76,966$261,800$179 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Williamson, GA 30292 90%216$87,394$327,100$179 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.