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 Gretna, LA 70056

Gretna: median income $59,027, home value $230,500, $137/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indianapolis, IN 46229 96%722$61,388$191,100$137 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Gastonia, NC 28054 94%637$61,035$245,100$174 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73132 94%590$60,419$213,500$131 Very close on everything we compare
Petersburg, VA 23803 93%881$57,813$230,400$183 Very close on everything we compare
Greensboro, NC 27406 93%729$59,563$204,400$164 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Spartanburg, SC 29301 93%585$57,805$212,000$142 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, FL 32210 93%496$61,050$225,600$164 larger
Jacksonville, FL 32244 93%495$62,204$241,700$167 larger · newer homes
Houston, TX 77040 93%329$65,028$244,700$152 Very close on everything we compare
Bay City, TX 77414 93%361$59,128$172,000$141 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Petersburg, VA 23805 92%884$60,807$233,400$173 smaller
Sanford, NC 27330 92%739$61,300$242,700$160 Very close on everything we compare
Milledgeville, GA 31061 92%457$54,263$184,400$146 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Plant City, FL 33563 92%495$60,131$226,900$191 smaller
Athens, AL 35611 92%384$57,377$225,600$158 older residents
Hagerstown, MD 21740 91%968$62,873$262,300$174 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Columbia, SC 29223 91%608$62,408$202,900$141 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Decatur, GA 30035 91%432$66,799$244,200$142 smaller
Carrollton, GA 30117 91%387$61,842$267,700$173 pricier homes ($37K more)
Pensacola, FL 32506 91%167$62,486$206,100$164 Very close on everything we compare
Winter Haven, FL 33880 91%517$56,390$228,300$169 Very close on everything we compare
Fairborn, OH 45324 91%765$64,979$184,200$155 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46235 91%725$58,951$185,800$133 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Westland, MI 48185 91%936$60,854$194,000$167 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Grandview, MO 64030 91%672$53,216$188,800$149 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller

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.