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 Chattanooga, TN 37407

Chattanooga: median income $35,845, home value $98,900, $168/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oklahoma City, OK 73108 91%693$37,168$80,700$167 larger · older residents
Savannah, GA 31415 84%313$37,109$149,700$167 pricier homes ($51K more) · older residents
Columbus, OH 43211 84%369$42,579$112,700$152 larger · older residents
Omaha, NE 68111 83%724$42,185$116,400$124 larger
Amarillo, TX 79104 83%932$39,920$94,400$109 older residents · more homeowners
Dayton, OH 45404 81%336$38,874$86,900$119 older residents
Tulsa, OK 74110 81%605$42,054$71,400$122 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Tulsa, OK 74115 81%602$44,608$83,800$126 larger · more homeowners
San Antonio, TX 78203 81%861$35,536$158,000$191 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller · older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73109 80%691$43,133$99,200$109 larger · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63134 79%381$44,680$94,700$115 more homeowners
Oklahoma City, OK 73119 79%693$45,421$100,600$123 larger
Tulsa, OK 74106 79%606$40,776$109,500$123 larger · older residents
Louisville, KY 40215 77%222$43,725$114,900$143 larger · older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46803 77%419$34,381$85,200$96 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Jacksonville, FL 32254 76%382$34,953$110,500$152 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64132 76%581$45,622$108,000$98 older residents
Omaha, NE 68110 76%723$39,813$132,800$122 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents
Laredo, TX 78040 76%985$36,092$118,700$151 larger · newer homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73129 75%689$46,670$84,700$120 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Waco, TX 76707 75%726$40,443$126,200$131 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · more homeowners
Fort Wayne, IN 46806 74%418$47,895$84,100$106 larger
Racine, WI 53404 74%552$50,428$129,800$172 pricier homes ($31K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Kansas City, KS 66101 74%588$42,551$106,300$123 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Independence, MO 64053 73%580$47,285$80,200$129 older residents · older 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.