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 Bowling Green, KY 42104

Bowling Green: median income $75,164, home value $306,400, $174/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bemidji, MN 56601 95%849$72,262$260,900$170 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Columbia, MO 65202 95%349$72,289$217,900$179 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Jonesboro, AR 72404 95%253$70,269$247,100$149 cheaper homes ($59K less)
San Angelo, TX 76904 95%887$81,833$285,400$176 Very close on everything we compare
Chattanooga, TN 37421 94%151$82,517$333,700$197 pricier homes ($27K more)
Jackson, TN 38305 94%158$68,977$243,800$157 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Hattiesburg, MS 39402 94%423$75,220$253,900$153 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Green Bay, WI 54311 94%528$84,914$300,600$207 Very close on everything we compare
Sartell, MN 56377 94%723$87,172$302,400$167 smaller
Bossier City, LA 71111 94%511$65,292$276,600$157 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Temple, TX 76502 94%746$82,088$272,500$157 cheaper homes ($34K less)
High Point, NC 27265 93%364$73,981$266,700$167 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents
Northport, AL 35473 93%261$69,657$272,800$168 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Cleveland, TN 37312 93%150$78,261$301,000$195 Very close on everything we compare
Canal Winchester, OH 43110 93%281$77,442$304,200$191 Very close on everything we compare
Lafayette, LA 70508 93%568$86,005$305,300$163 Very close on everything we compare
Tyler, TX 75703 93%597$79,194$336,300$179 pricier homes ($30K more)
Florence, SC 29501 92%421$71,671$236,900$156 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Plainfield, IN 46168 92%190$90,000$297,200$159 Very close on everything we compare
Kalamazoo, MI 49009 92%371$80,930$346,600$181 pricier homes ($40K more)
Lake Charles, LA 70605 92%609$86,015$308,700$142 Very close on everything we compare
Springdale, AR 72762 92%432$82,228$303,700$211 Very close on everything we compare
Longview, TX 75605 92%561$73,190$252,300$160 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Brenham, TX 77833 92%739$73,388$280,500$172 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Canyon, TX 79015 92%875$83,445$280,400$177 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller

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.