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 Olympia, KY 40358

Olympia: median income $92,143, home value $220,000, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Zulch, TX 77872 91%860$87,188$190,300$241 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Smithville, AR 72466 84%439$79,808$165,100$43 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Detroit, TX 75436 84%714$90,043$201,400$50 larger · older residents
Williams, IN 47470 83%165$90,750$189,100$145 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older residents
Louise, TX 77455 83%957$77,625$190,600$118 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · older residents
Roberts, ID 83444 83%1,526$88,438$263,000$173 pricier homes ($43K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Hindsville, AR 72738 82%575$86,296$229,000$211 larger · older residents
Frost, TX 76641 82%848$81,094$166,300$85 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Hartly, DE 19953 81%438$81,792$246,700$219 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Clarendon, NC 28432 81%386$90,815$160,200$211 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · older residents
Logan, AL 35098 81%330$80,517$173,100$289 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · more renters
Clarksburg, OH 43115 81%101$94,265$156,700$121 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · older residents
Smithville, GA 31787 80%429$92,554$180,400$186 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents
Amesville, OH 45711 80%131$79,464$219,500$165 older residents
Creighton, MO 64739 80%564$85,375$305,400$179 pricier homes ($85K more) · more homeowners
French Settlement, LA 70733 80%673$74,853$228,500$157 larger · older residents
Aquilla, TX 76622 80%877$74,167$195,700$174 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Sterling, CT 06377 79%677$97,308$275,900$298 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · older residents
Shiloh, GA 31826 79%369$85,376$175,700$262 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · older homes
Hardinsburg, IN 47125 79%144$73,421$169,500$142 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Middletown, MO 63359 79%421$75,227$160,200— cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Agra, OK 74824 79%742$64,063$168,500$155 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($52K less)
Copper Hill, VA 24079 78%207$72,292$227,400$206 older residents
Woodlawn, TN 37191 78%237$91,455$271,000$197 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · older residents
Borden, IN 47106 78%123$87,344$207,700$168 larger

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.