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 Middleton, WI 53562

Middleton: median income $101,381, home value $532,200, $270/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Raleigh, NC 27612 96%763$95,988$529,000$261 Very close on everything we compare
Charlottesville, VA 22901 95%670$92,145$501,700$272 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Dallas, TX 75248 95%804$100,414$576,100$254 pricier homes ($44K more)
South Burlington, VT 05403 94%818$105,616$442,400$281 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Charlottesville, VA 22902 94%676$93,463$436,200$290 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Hopkins, MN 55305 94%233$104,914$451,800$234 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Charlotte, NC 28210 93%719$100,824$531,700$315 larger
Fort Collins, CO 80525 93%819$91,636$588,400$265 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 92%301$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Austin, TX 78759 92%988$102,400$674,000$332 pricier homes ($142K more)
Birmingham, AL 35243 91%684$99,645$538,400$233 smaller · less walkable
Englewood, CO 80112 91%833$108,874$659,200$282 pricier homes ($127K more)
Raleigh, NC 27609 90%766$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Atlanta, GA 30328 89%691$112,111$561,900$236 pricier homes ($30K more) · 5 min longer commute
Tampa, FL 33611 89%1,121$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Overland Park, KS 66213 89%397$117,706$465,900$180 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Austin, TX 78727 89%986$110,379$540,400$272 Very close on everything we compare
Broomfield, CO 80021 89%836$110,038$568,000$292 pricier homes ($36K more) · 5 min longer commute
Fort Collins, CO 80526 89%821$88,686$551,800$273 younger residents
Minneapolis, MN 55441 88%234$101,981$470,100$214 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Overland Park, KS 66210 88%396$95,636$373,200$185 cheaper homes ($159K less)
Overland Park, KS 66223 88%398$114,855$437,500$186 cheaper homes ($95K less) · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75252 88%802$85,000$580,600$241 pricier homes ($48K more) · 6 min longer commute
Grapevine, TX 76051 88%814$111,160$489,400$258 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · less walkable
Fort Worth, TX 76109 88%836$100,507$630,800$269 pricier homes ($99K more) · younger residents · older homes

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.