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.

Reset

Towns most like Memphis, TN 38119

Memphis: median income $89,289, home value $296,700, $147/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Huntsville, AL 35802 94%189$76,324$334,100$170 pricier homes ($37K more)
Dayton, OH 45440 94%447$82,383$267,900$158 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Omaha, NE 68154 94%546$81,385$326,100$158 pricier homes ($29K more)
New Orleans, LA 70123 94%355$83,585$348,100$187 pricier homes ($51K more)
Troy, MI 48083 93%631$90,794$315,800$199 Very close on everything we compare
Reading, PA 19610 92%839$87,374$343,600$186 pricier homes ($47K more)
Winston-Salem, NC 27104 91%540$81,529$359,300$181 pricier homes ($63K more)
Cincinnati, OH 45255 91%409$92,035$303,800$188 5 min longer commute
Farmington, MI 48334 91%621$102,228$347,700$162 pricier homes ($51K more)
Saint Louis, MO 63146 91%252$84,756$301,700$167 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64151 91%388$92,876$323,000$166 pricier homes ($26K more)
Macon, GA 31210 90%381$78,447$285,800$130 newer homes
Maumee, OH 43537 90%560$82,752$253,300$172 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Dayton, OH 45459 90%443$89,592$302,100$160 older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46804 90%482$85,833$258,700$150 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Haslett, MI 48840 90%605$73,408$280,900$184 smaller
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 89%785$99,077$284,500$199 larger
Greensboro, NC 27410 89%564$85,291$338,600$187 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Perrysburg, OH 43551 89%560$95,846$311,100$198 larger
Stow, OH 44224 89%621$94,287$254,500$183 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Holt, MI 48842 89%595$88,340$225,900$153 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Portage, MI 49024 89%542$91,105$267,400$165 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Lenexa, KS 66215 89%380$88,232$338,800$189 pricier homes ($42K more) · more walkable
Lafayette, LA 70503 89%362$94,688$341,300$144 pricier homes ($45K more) · more single-family homes
Palmyra, PA 17078 88%809$93,135$305,700$190 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.