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 Box Elder, SD 57719

Box Elder: median income $74,885, home value $317,300, $203/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bryan, TX 77807 94%996$74,375$278,600$181 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Oakwood, GA 30566 91%1,228$66,456$287,300$186 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Beaufort, SC 29906 90%1,449$68,174$265,300$230 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Heber, CA 92249 90%1,031$72,028$335,600$243 smaller
Nolanville, TX 76559 88%949$76,286$263,500$178 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Evans, CO 80620 88%271$73,590$341,700$255 larger
Saint Marys, GA 31558 87%1,492$74,268$297,000$181 larger · more single-family homes
Fort Pierce, FL 34981 87%1,708$71,136$373,000$189 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Princess Anne, MD 21853 86%1,473$69,697$208,300$187 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Gainesville, GA 30504 86%1,228$75,885$351,600$194 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Austin, TX 78724 86%1,000$77,926$344,000$220 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
North Charleston, SC 29420 85%1,455$72,661$331,700$190 larger · more walkable
Prosser, WA 99350 85%825$81,014$338,500$244 older homes
Aberdeen, NC 28315 84%1,396$77,418$303,100$174 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Ladson, SC 29456 84%1,451$78,361$270,100$183 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Warsaw, IN 46582 84%894$66,738$255,300$165 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Comstock Park, MI 49321 84%871$77,870$274,400$203 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents · older homes
Pueblo, CO 81008 84%409$69,925$310,300$176 older residents
North Las Vegas, NV 89086 84%834$79,222$438,800$233 pricier homes ($122K more) · more walkable
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 83%1,514$88,908$343,600$203 pricier homes ($26K more) · more homeowners
Lutz, FL 33559 83%1,585$80,185$377,300$234 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Clermont, FL 34714 83%1,599$75,392$387,300$217 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Canal Winchester, OH 43110 83%1,079$77,442$304,200$191 larger
Williston, ND 58801 83%285$84,702$298,300$201 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Independence, OR 97351 83%991$88,519$396,800$294 pricier homes ($80K more)

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.