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 West, MS 39192

West: median income $48,750, home value $90,200, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Toone, TN 38381 90%157$51,313$110,000$134 older residents
Higbee, MO 65257 89%449$54,911$98,900$175 older residents
Centertown, KY 42328 88%330$57,679$97,200$27 Very close on everything we compare
Hornbeck, LA 71439 86%247$43,638$109,700$50 Very close on everything we compare
Pullman, MI 49450 85%672$50,102$119,100$168 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Hermitage, AR 71647 85%139$50,441$85,000$38 older residents
Stokes, NC 27884 84%732$64,306$114,700$91 Very close on everything we compare
Sharpsburg, KY 40374 84%479$43,607$115,100$153 larger · older residents
Roseland, LA 70456 83%173$47,399$116,200$230 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older residents
Flatgap, KY 41219 81%505$48,365$88,100$60 older residents · more renters
Williamstown, NY 13493 80%1,029$63,125$121,500$176 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Ruby, SC 29741 80%559$45,000$117,000$152 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Castor, LA 71016 80%204$41,806$114,000— older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Olla, LA 71465 80%169$42,366$112,100$96 larger
Lockesburg, AR 71846 80%256$56,250$124,700$162 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Oktaha, OK 74450 80%367$50,446$122,200$149 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Montezuma Creek, UT 84534 80%1,125$47,708$62,000— cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Jamesville, NC 27846 79%754$55,147$99,300— larger · older residents · more renters
Meigs, GA 31765 79%364$42,083$100,800— larger · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Madison, MO 65263 79%454$56,211$121,000$125 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents
Cotton Valley, LA 71018 79%213$41,638$97,300$145 older residents
Howe, OK 74940 79%304$50,677$130,700$141 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older residents
Lumber Bridge, NC 28357 78%624$49,116$88,600$161 larger · older residents
Traphill, NC 28685 78%542$46,406$123,200$312 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Pall Mall, TN 38577 78%356$52,578$153,000— pricier homes ($63K more) · 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.