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 Violet, LA 70092

Violet: median income $57,188, home value $166,600, $120/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Owenton, KY 40359 95%661$62,542$169,700$139 Very close on everything we compare
Mulberry, AR 72947 95%455$58,640$161,100$113 smaller
Vassar, MI 48768 94%993$64,413$158,400$134 Very close on everything we compare
Charleston, AR 72933 93%444$59,318$145,700$128 Very close on everything we compare
Goliad, TX 77963 92%458$56,804$185,900$129 5 min shorter commute
Holly Springs, MS 38635 91%335$55,625$148,900$133 larger
Lewisburg, KY 42256 91%518$58,794$140,400$153 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Calhoun, KY 42327 91%551$66,836$167,500$131 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Peebles, OH 45660 91%729$57,252$161,600$145 more renters
Ashdown, AR 71822 91%360$59,167$123,100$140 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Hulbert, OK 74441 91%516$52,758$158,400$162 Very close on everything we compare
Falkville, AL 35622 90%353$66,506$189,500$102 5 min shorter commute
Adamsville, TN 38310 90%380$50,232$158,200$134 Very close on everything we compare
Mendenhall, MS 39114 90%141$60,286$129,300$136 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Dixon, KY 42409 90%540$60,000$155,000$127 smaller
Brown City, MI 48416 90%995$66,474$222,000$116 pricier homes ($55K more)
Croswell, MI 48422 90%1,006$57,899$171,300$119 7 min shorter commute
Van, TX 75790 90%385$65,039$173,900$133 smaller
Centerville, PA 16404 89%992$65,972$156,200— smaller
Adamsville, AL 35005 89%307$59,125$142,900$92 older homes
Sylacauga, AL 35151 89%307$68,239$153,300$148 Very close on everything we compare
Millry, AL 36558 89%150$63,967$141,400$106 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Iron City, TN 38463 89%379$58,059$152,800$118 smaller
Malta, OH 43758 89%811$61,397$152,900$134 smaller
Yale, MI 48097 89%993$63,659$198,700$124 pricier homes ($32K 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.