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 Ward, AR 72176

Ward: median income $68,840, home value $176,000, $151/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Willis, TX 77378 96%374$71,143$199,800$157 larger
Sunset, LA 70584 95%316$62,281$193,800$156 Very close on everything we compare
Bunnlevel, NC 28323 93%738$69,095$224,000$164 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Parkton, NC 28371 93%730$67,257$157,900$167 Very close on everything we compare
Grimesland, NC 27837 92%827$69,830$161,400$182 Very close on everything we compare
Stedman, NC 28391 92%747$72,955$210,900$149 pricier homes ($35K more)
Dalzell, SC 29040 92%654$65,978$162,100$161 6 min shorter commute
Danville, AL 35619 92%273$65,863$168,800$154 smaller
Winnie, TX 77665 92%382$78,590$169,900$149 Very close on everything we compare
Four Oaks, NC 27524 91%762$75,827$212,500$188 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Midway, GA 31320 91%644$77,195$234,100$186 pricier homes ($58K more)
Jasper, AL 35504 91%280$66,835$192,700$148 larger · older residents
Tunnel Hill, GA 30755 90%388$74,167$195,100$187 older homes
Ludowici, GA 31316 90%626$74,766$238,700$150 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Horton, AL 35980 90%322$57,277$173,200$144 Very close on everything we compare
Walls, MS 38680 90%101$59,503$220,400$168 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents
Mount Orab, OH 45154 90%522$74,087$234,200$179 pricier homes ($58K more)
New Haven, MI 48048 90%727$70,938$188,700$166 Very close on everything we compare
Noble, OK 73068 90%308$73,821$192,000$149 older residents
Glade Hill, VA 24092 89%692$64,388$222,900$132 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Broadway, NC 27505 89%726$79,462$191,000$175 more apartments and townhomes
Princeton, NC 27569 89%775$78,850$221,700$183 pricier homes ($46K more)
Pikeville, NC 27863 89%787$77,933$212,200$165 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Linden, NC 28356 89%740$72,150$225,300$151 pricier homes ($49K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Springfield, GA 31329 89%631$78,483$252,800$199 pricier homes ($77K 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.