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 Noel, MO 64854

Noel: median income $44,490, home value $132,800, $153/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Midway, TN 37809 86%638$50,192$163,000$180 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · older residents
Danville, AR 72833 84%120$52,422$121,900$127 more homeowners
Bridgeport, WA 98813 84%1,501$49,969$177,000$202 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Midway Park, NC 28544 83%971$52,354$141,700$172 younger residents
Live Oak, FL 32064 82%791$50,984$165,500$154 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · older residents
Tulsa, OK 74116 82%80$55,156$156,200$173 older homes
Nacogdoches, TX 75961 82%344$41,495$141,200— larger
Lost Hills, CA 93249 82%1,405$46,646$170,300— pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · younger residents
Florence, SC 29506 81%851$40,311$123,300$148 larger
Sunflower, MS 38778 81%304$40,179$86,900— cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Warsaw, NC 28398 80%927$47,458$91,200$122 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
New Llano, LA 71461 80%381$51,042$124,500$108 smaller · older residents
Newark, AR 72562 80%180$55,156$144,600$118 smaller · more homeowners
New Church, VA 23415 79%1,047$46,836$177,800$206 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · older residents
Coward, SC 29530 79%849$44,012$116,800$125 smaller · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Cordele, GA 31015 79%688$44,452$148,600$128 larger · older residents
Pearsall, TX 78061 79%592$60,247$103,400$145 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Moultrie, GA 31788 78%725$47,325$132,300$152 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Browning, MT 59417 78%1,250$37,676$150,000— larger · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
La Joya, TX 78560 78%749$55,721$111,600$161 more single-family homes
Hatch, NM 87937 78%768$39,495$97,400— cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Biscoe, NC 27209 77%826$45,861$129,300— more homeowners
Spartanburg, SC 29303 77%713$48,295$159,500$137 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Wrens, GA 30833 77%723$44,139$130,500$157 older residents · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Mission, SD 57555 77%567$40,694$84,600— cheaper homes ($48K less) · 6 min shorter commute

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.