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 New Orleans, LA 70129

New Orleans: median income $55,972, home value $174,400, $106/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Millersburg, PA 17061 90%1,024$55,611$166,100$121 older homes
Crockett, TX 75835 90%340$53,611$172,200$104 less walkable
Edgefield, SC 29824 89%528$56,396$156,200$131 less walkable
Blountstown, FL 32424 89%287$51,398$170,300$107 less walkable
Burton, MI 48519 89%955$64,351$159,100$152 Very close on everything we compare
Mexia, TX 76667 89%409$52,541$154,700$133 less walkable
Wharton, TX 77488 89%378$60,327$163,200$121 less walkable
Cresson, PA 16630 88%956$58,315$152,500$95 smaller · older homes
Kingwood, WV 26537 88%866$59,844$169,900$112 smaller
Barnesville, OH 43713 88%842$53,927$187,900$137 Very close on everything we compare
Flint, MI 48532 88%953$61,998$169,200$109 larger · older homes
Skowhegan, ME 04976 87%1,493$53,534$165,000$158 Very close on everything we compare
Marianna, FL 32446 87%279$55,125$161,000$140 less walkable
Ocala, FL 34479 87%468$54,283$207,400$165 pricier homes ($33K more)
Rainbow City, AL 35906 87%345$56,420$220,900$155 pricier homes ($47K more)
South Point, OH 45680 87%711$54,523$164,800$129 6 min shorter commute
Little Rock, AR 72206 87%348$52,132$142,000$120 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Edna, TX 77957 87%416$62,926$168,800$116 less walkable
Philipsburg, PA 16866 86%990$49,968$150,300$125 older homes
Buckhannon, WV 26201 86%821$53,832$174,100$126 larger
Farmville, NC 27828 86%806$49,940$169,000$133 less walkable
Batesburg, SC 29006 86%552$50,379$157,500$137 less walkable
Childersburg, AL 35044 86%299$56,425$124,500$115 cheaper homes ($50K less) · less walkable
Luverne, AL 36049 86%240$51,126$140,900$95 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · less walkable
Hardinsburg, KY 40143 86%564$59,475$155,900$130 smaller · less walkable

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.