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 Pickens, MS 39146

Pickens: median income $31,436, home value $61,500, 43-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Parkers Lake, KY 42634 91%415$31,250$68,900$161 smaller
Garrison, KY 41141 89%547$36,508$87,500— pricier homes ($26K more)
Tonalea, AZ 86044 86%1,210$33,167$60,800— 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Pineville, SC 29468 85%572$27,032$98,900$171 pricier homes ($37K more)
Harts, WV 25524 84%568$40,194$89,700$74 pricier homes ($28K more)
Albertson, NC 28508 84%711$34,567$48,200— 6 min shorter commute
Clio, SC 29525 83%610$28,618$70,200— smaller · 8 min shorter commute · older homes
Salters, SC 29590 83%588$31,115$74,400$128 more apartments and townhomes
Beattyville, KY 41311 82%480$39,158$84,300$71 larger
Pioneer, TN 37847 81%407$35,066$115,500$314 pricier homes ($54K more)
Tohatchi, NM 87325 81%1,082$36,800$71,000— younger residents
Hurley, VA 24620 80%546$30,129$69,000— 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Talbotton, GA 31827 80%316$34,946$75,500$86 smaller · older residents
Shonto, AZ 86054 80%1,199$24,063$77,800— smaller
Pembroke Township, IL 60958 79%580$32,153$99,100$112 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Engelhard, NC 27824 78%816$42,589$79,900$86 smaller
Gresham, SC 29546 78%616$32,043$97,100— pricier homes ($36K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Gaylesville, AL 35973 78%273$44,608$69,400$158 more homeowners
Ringgold, LA 71068 78%197$33,125$118,500$93 pricier homes ($57K more)
Sabinal, TX 78881 78%613$35,104$69,800$127 smaller · 9 min shorter commute · more walkable
Vanderwagen, NM 87326 78%1,083$34,773$62,300— younger residents · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Drakes Branch, VA 23937 77%705$42,818$85,000$177 7 min shorter commute
Lane, SC 29564 77%585$40,000$78,000— smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Briceville, TN 37710 77%394$28,362$90,600$174 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · older residents
Elkhorn City, KY 41522 77%525$37,331$90,600$104 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · older residents

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.