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 Knoxville, TN 37938

Knoxville: median income $84,135, home value $322,500, $205/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sierra Vista, AZ 85650 95%1,537$91,654$327,000$193 Very close on everything we compare
Oxford, GA 30054 94%168$76,427$318,200$181 smaller
Thornville, OH 43076 94%275$91,085$300,500$227 smaller
Felton, DE 19943 93%500$73,925$312,300$200 Very close on everything we compare
Howard, OH 43028 93%310$91,186$273,000$198 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472 93%901$81,328$342,500$254 smaller
Advance, NC 27006 92%196$96,580$334,600$191 Very close on everything we compare
Ellijay, GA 30536 92%103$80,000$338,500$240 smaller
Wyoming, MN 55092 92%793$95,337$363,900$206 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Burnet, TX 78611 92%903$80,938$319,300$212 Very close on everything we compare
Sarver, PA 16055 91%391$90,950$315,300$169 smaller · older homes
Moscow, PA 18444 91%580$84,246$261,100$207 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older homes
Smithfield, VA 23430 91%410$104,065$367,400$208 pricier homes ($45K more)
Waynesville, OH 45068 91%237$96,147$335,600$204 smaller
Tucson, AZ 85743 91%1,572$90,093$356,300$221 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Barnegat, NJ 08005 90%585$93,584$395,800$267 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
Moore, SC 29369 90%138$82,924$263,300$161 cheaper homes ($59K less) · younger residents
Statham, GA 30666 90%150$95,000$316,600$176 smaller
Brunswick, GA 31523 90%365$88,988$310,400$177 younger residents
Hamilton, GA 31811 90%238$90,385$294,600$188 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Killen, AL 35645 90%217$87,958$221,000$167 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Grass Lake, MI 49240 90%426$99,681$298,700$193 smaller · older homes
Hortonville, WI 54944 90%619$100,523$346,200$201 smaller
Abingdon, VA 24211 89%117$85,747$306,600$176 smaller
Stanley, NC 28164 89%168$79,728$310,300$189 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.