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.

Reset

Towns most like South Lebanon, OH 45065

South Lebanon: median income $104,795, home value $312,300, $184/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Montrose, MN 55363 93%632$101,989$296,800$171 Very close on everything we compare
Roberts, WI 54023 92%577$108,466$385,100$197 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller
Ponder, TX 76259 92%843$101,845$354,100$179 pricier homes ($42K more)
Barboursville, VA 22923 91%328$118,125$392,100$213 pricier homes ($80K more)
Van Alstyne, TX 75495 91%799$111,563$397,900$197 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger
Carrollton, VA 23314 90%449$104,029$409,500$211 pricier homes ($97K more)
Tonganoxie, KS 66086 90%583$98,318$325,900$212 larger · older homes
Addis, LA 70710 90%740$108,041$247,400$159 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Washington, OK 73093 90%786$96,719$315,300$184 smaller
Elgin, OK 73538 90%843$91,324$288,700$167 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Dallas, TX 75065 90%833$102,597$334,400$194 larger · older residents
Krum, TX 76249 90%839$120,169$356,000$188 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Midland, NC 28107 89%349$105,122$385,500$191 pricier homes ($73K more)
Hammond, WI 54015 89%572$114,293$326,500$241 smaller · older homes
Rockford, MN 55373 89%626$105,556$363,900$190 pricier homes ($52K more)
Platte City, MO 64079 89%565$99,161$350,900$188 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · older residents
Geismar, LA 70734 89%740$128,975$344,100$177 pricier homes ($32K more)
Murfreesboro, TN 37127 88%276$91,401$375,400$218 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Dundee, MI 48131 88%181$85,747$274,200$164 cheaper homes ($38K less)
De Soto, KS 66018 88%577$105,357$422,500$207 pricier homes ($110K more) · older homes
Cashion, OK 73016 88%777$103,872$285,400$186 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Bullard, TX 75757 88%799$91,165$275,500$197 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Martinsburg, WV 25403 87%333$87,512$298,500$162 larger
Bunker Hill, WV 25413 87%329$100,556$280,100$190 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Walton, KY 41094 87%40$96,515$293,700$185 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.