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 37408

Chattanooga: median income $81,250, home value $468,200, $282/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Phoenix, AZ 85004 82%1,528$73,750$417,400$331 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Portland, OR 97227 81%2,077$93,293$662,000$294 pricier homes ($194K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Raleigh, NC 27601 80%379$71,350$579,500$387 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73104 79%688$66,042$408,100$255 cheaper homes ($60K less) · more renters
Columbus, OH 43240 77%376$82,895$329,200$224 cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger · less walkable
Salt Lake City, UT 84101 76%1,496$72,735$499,300$474 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Orlando, FL 32801 75%504$80,871$428,000$274 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Indianapolis, IN 46204 75%331$86,396$381,400$234 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · more renters
Saint Paul, MN 55114 75%803$62,766$319,800$230 cheaper homes ($148K less)
Addison, TX 75001 72%675$73,514$468,800$259 larger · 5 min longer commute · more renters
Charlotte, NC 28202 71%253$105,889$443,500$361 larger
Greenville, SC 29601 71%165$76,136$659,000$414 pricier homes ($191K more) · larger · older residents
Columbus, OH 43215 71%364$74,087$551,200$287 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28204 70%254$92,054$585,200$326 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Fort Worth, TX 76102 70%707$75,859$296,600$304 cheaper homes ($172K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30313 69%101$84,960$363,800$225 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · younger residents
Raleigh, NC 27605 68%378$71,096$540,000$389 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · older homes
Tampa, FL 33602 68%516$97,320$653,100$431 pricier homes ($185K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80216 68%1,125$82,143$425,700$270 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30312 67%103$82,779$530,600$310 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Houston, TX 77003 67%689$83,980$384,400$194 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
San Antonio, TX 78256 67%862$74,977$579,300$242 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85034 67%1,527$63,559$422,200$280 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 7 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30346 66%94$95,000$595,900$323 pricier homes ($128K more) · 6 min longer commute · more renters
Dallas, TX 75235 66%678$63,393$294,500$249 cheaper homes ($174K less) · larger

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.