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 Alexandria, LA 71302

Alexandria: median income $34,669, home value $110,000, $56/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Greenwood, MS 38930 94%203$35,453$112,300$67 larger
Caruthersville, MO 63830 92%374$36,979$121,300$58 smaller
Clarksdale, MS 38614 90%231$37,383$92,300$64 Very close on everything we compare
Belzoni, MS 39038 89%174$33,538$85,800$49 smaller
Tulia, TX 79088 89%589$35,804$82,800$57 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Forrest City, AR 72335 88%275$40,400$95,400$69 Very close on everything we compare
Greenville, MS 38703 87%169$44,291$85,700$64 Very close on everything we compare
Fulton, KY 42041 86%418$36,045$105,900$87 smaller
Youngstown, OH 44505 86%945$37,538$93,000$87 Very close on everything we compare
Hugo, OK 74743 86%261$41,722$134,200$71 smaller
Macon, GA 31206 85%523$30,042$90,200$71 larger · more renters
Anniston, AL 36201 85%418$37,614$80,900$40 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Charleston, MO 63834 85%429$41,348$114,000$67 smaller · older residents
Trumann, AR 72472 85%317$40,529$113,500$97 smaller
Beaumont, TX 77703 85%129$31,803$87,600$77 more renters
Birmingham, AL 35217 84%367$40,486$120,400$55 more walkable
Mc Gehee, AR 71654 84%174$41,645$97,300$68 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Hope, AR 71801 84%180$45,345$99,400$70 Very close on everything we compare
Charleston, MS 38921 83%230$37,326$102,000$55 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Jackson, MS 39209 83%147$36,344$78,400$48 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · more walkable
Meridian, MS 39307 83%229$30,413$91,300$34 Very close on everything we compare
Warren, AR 71671 83%163$43,419$101,200$36 smaller
Newport, AR 72112 83%307$41,843$125,100$75 8 min shorter commute
Aliceville, AL 35442 82%280$44,503$139,000$66 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Selma, AL 36701 82%327$39,815$108,200$82 larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.