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 Oxford, MS 38655

Oxford: median income $68,235, home value $340,000, $261/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Auburn, AL 36830 89%262$70,188$367,700$219 pricier homes ($28K more)
Kalamazoo, MI 49009 88%586$80,930$346,600$181 Very close on everything we compare
Las Cruces, NM 88011 86%1,001$75,875$333,400$191 older residents
Ellensburg, WA 98926 86%1,830$71,137$470,300$264 pricier homes ($130K more)
Winston-Salem, NC 27106 85%533$68,568$313,100$176 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28269 85%496$81,517$341,700$197 larger · more walkable
Knoxville, TN 37923 85%325$73,699$333,000$213 smaller · older homes
Bowling Green, KY 42104 85%248$75,164$306,400$174 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Conway, AR 72034 85%177$65,635$274,200$163 cheaper homes ($66K less) · more renters
Murfreesboro, TN 37130 84%204$62,706$371,800$207 pricier homes ($32K more)
Canal Winchester, OH 43110 84%529$77,442$304,200$191 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73142 84%469$81,818$364,300$178 smaller
Wilmington, NC 28412 83%661$71,636$371,900$240 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents · more walkable
Tallahassee, FL 32311 83%411$81,243$321,600$207 smaller · older residents
Pineville, NC 28134 82%491$85,681$383,800$230 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Lutz, FL 33559 82%595$80,185$377,300$234 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Richmond, KY 40475 82%374$63,050$244,300$178 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Lexington, KY 40515 82%376$86,268$340,500$191 Very close on everything we compare
Fayetteville, AR 72704 82%298$96,014$331,100$212 higher income ($28K more)
Tyler, TX 75703 82%365$79,194$336,300$179 older residents
Raleigh, NC 27616 81%627$83,565$349,300$183 5 min longer commute
Southern Pines, NC 28387 81%575$74,830$410,800$226 pricier homes ($71K more) · smaller · older residents
Kennesaw, GA 30144 81%280$88,560$345,900$188 Very close on everything we compare
Athens, GA 30606 81%348$63,328$362,500$201 more renters · older homes
Orlando, FL 32817 81%627$80,711$362,500$249 more walkable

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.