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 Cleveland, MS 38732

Cleveland: median income $44,705, home value $160,700, $87/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Charles, LA 70601 90%282$49,992$162,200$98 larger
Magnolia, AR 71753 90%148$50,504$167,900$79 Very close on everything we compare
North Little Rock, AR 72117 90%108$44,319$141,600$118 Very close on everything we compare
Idabel, OK 74745 87%234$47,134$145,400$110 smaller
Princeton, WV 24740 86%596$44,793$132,300$110 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Gadsden, AL 35901 86%276$48,876$166,200$127 Very close on everything we compare
Dothan, AL 36303 86%355$54,147$182,600$127 larger
Shreveport, LA 71118 86%201$50,287$170,600$113 Very close on everything we compare
Muskogee, OK 74401 86%303$42,294$149,300$110 Very close on everything we compare
Huntington, WV 25705 85%567$61,329$165,300$114 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsburg, KS 66762 85%337$50,511$145,300$110 younger residents
Crowley, LA 70526 85%262$37,747$157,800$82 Very close on everything we compare
Monticello, AR 71655 85%62$43,346$138,300$97 more apartments and townhomes
Miami, OK 74354 85%318$50,818$127,600$108 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Macon, GA 31211 84%416$49,202$168,100$131 Very close on everything we compare
Ashland, KY 41101 84%557$53,889$121,600$101 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Charleston, IL 61920 84%421$52,429$149,200$104 younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Nashville, AR 71852 84%181$47,238$174,500$122 smaller
Arkadelphia, AR 71923 84%136$56,089$170,600$108 younger residents
Chickasha, OK 73018 84%421$56,484$141,400$122 Very close on everything we compare
Sumter, SC 29150 83%595$50,965$169,700$133 larger
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 83%210$51,152$151,600$109 larger
Winfield, KS 67156 83%426$58,821$153,300$90 older homes
Monroe, LA 71203 83%112$52,326$185,100$132 larger
Natchitoches, LA 71457 83%194$46,668$197,000$134 pricier homes ($36K more) · more apartments and townhomes

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.