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 Saline, LA 71070

Saline: median income $59,259, home value $109,100, $116/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Poulan, GA 31781 95%538$52,991$110,800$123 Very close on everything we compare
Surrency, GA 31563 94%629$62,917$97,100$140 Very close on everything we compare
Wallingford, KY 41093 94%676$60,350$123,800$131 Very close on everything we compare
Irondale, MO 63648 94%409$51,765$99,500$126 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, AR 72157 94%214$62,931$140,300— pricier homes ($31K more)
Plymouth, IL 62367 93%572$58,000$126,700— Very close on everything we compare
Gilbertown, AL 36908 92%270$68,125$111,400— Very close on everything we compare
Malta, OH 43758 92%801$61,397$152,900$134 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Honoraville, AL 36042 91%382$61,120$111,000— Very close on everything we compare
Wickliffe, KY 42087 91%397$58,802$143,500$123 pricier homes ($34K more)
Summer Shade, KY 42166 91%523$49,783$116,200$145 larger
Bunch, OK 74931 91%263$56,667$125,500$160 smaller
Gary, TX 75643 91%86$59,342$142,000$166 pricier homes ($33K more)
French Creek, WV 26218 90%849$58,646$143,900— pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Bivins, TX 75555 90%89$58,750$112,100— Very close on everything we compare
Empire, AL 35063 89%360$61,138$110,500$127 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Leavenworth, IN 47137 89%554$65,505$133,400$141 Very close on everything we compare
Leasburg, MO 65535 89%417$56,660$139,500$173 pricier homes ($30K more)
Ore City, TX 75683 89%114$65,240$113,300$115 larger
Mount Calm, TX 76673 89%235$63,750$115,300$120 7 min shorter commute
Toone, TN 38381 88%316$51,313$110,000$134 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Bloomington Springs, TN 38545 88%499$59,512$118,100$150 more renters
Stringer, MS 39481 88%215$61,458$166,300— pricier homes ($57K more)
Salt Lick, KY 40371 88%664$62,917$148,100$152 pricier homes ($39K more) · older residents
Brooksville, KY 41004 88%668$66,176$119,100$110 larger

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.