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 Mammoth Cave, KY 42259

Mammoth Cave: median income $33,566, home value $148,100, $206/sq ft, 45-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Toxey, AL 36921 77%387$40,481$175,000— pricier homes ($27K more) · younger residents
Shacklefords, VA 23156 76%519$36,179$196,700$209 pricier homes ($49K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Pittsburg, MO 65724 76%394$41,447$174,100$279 pricier homes ($26K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Briceville, TN 37710 71%129$28,362$90,600$174 cheaper homes ($58K less) · younger residents
Round O, SC 29474 67%436$40,781$143,100$237 younger residents · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Kirkland, AZ 86332 67%1,504$49,891$223,700$204 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger · younger residents
Lamont, FL 32336 66%496$45,481$109,200$162 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Astor, FL 32102 65%621$57,588$161,100$206 larger
Del Rio, TN 37727 65%200$47,652$132,600$239 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Thorn Hill, TN 37881 65%167$37,443$111,900$160 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · younger residents
Walton, WV 25286 64%276$45,250$106,500— cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · younger residents
Oakland, MS 38948 64%304$29,400$86,200$170 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · younger residents
Gibson, LA 70356 64%595$32,756$175,600$166 pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents · 12 min shorter commute
Ash Fork, AZ 86320 64%1,470$42,609$184,500$133 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · younger residents
Mauk, GA 31058 63%345$40,655$85,200$157 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · younger residents
Florahome, FL 32140 63%576$35,474$151,900$198 younger residents
Smithdale, MS 39664 63%483$42,500$113,200$189 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · younger residents
Grovespring, MO 65662 63%353$51,339$216,100$212 pricier homes ($68K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Saint Joe, AR 72675 63%378$48,393$157,500$169 more renters · more single-family homes
Roper, NC 27970 62%540$37,578$132,200$247 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Patriot, IN 47038 62%130$46,101$116,300$152 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 14 min shorter commute
Grand Marsh, WI 53936 62%493$55,515$137,500$154 younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Theodosia, MO 65761 62%362$43,000$170,000$189 younger residents · 10 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Weirsdale, FL 32195 61%624$57,000$215,100$226 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Lonedell, MO 63060 61%267$54,926$179,500$192 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · younger 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.