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 Saint Joe, AR 72675

Saint Joe: median income $48,393, home value $157,500, $169/sq ft, 47-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grovespring, MO 65662 90%105$51,339$216,100$212 pricier homes ($59K more)
Pachuta, MS 39347 87%354$49,265$187,500$179 pricier homes ($30K more) · 8 min longer commute
Wardensville, WV 26851 83%804$49,776$209,400$185 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Ferguson, NC 28624 82%637$51,836$202,500$258 pricier homes ($45K more) · older homes
Trinidad, TX 75163 82%326$60,462$198,200$176 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Branch, MI 49402 81%655$51,324$169,800$239 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners · older homes
Milltown, IN 47145 80%393$48,434$123,000$132 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · younger residents
Bingham, ME 04920 78%1,350$39,860$128,100$138 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Del Rio, TN 37727 78%547$47,652$132,600$239 larger · younger residents
Saint Landry, LA 71367 78%353$62,159$119,700— cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · younger residents
Stahlstown, PA 15687 77%785$54,798$189,500$242 pricier homes ($32K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Pearce, AZ 85625 77%1,003$47,500$171,200$102 larger · more homeowners
Dunnsville, VA 22454 76%889$49,480$247,800$238 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Walton, WV 25286 76%651$45,250$106,500— cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · younger residents
Ethelsville, AL 35461 76%315$47,375$174,400— larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Poland, IN 47868 76%398$51,409$159,500$169 larger · younger residents
White Lake, WI 54491 76%669$55,917$168,400$163 larger · 12 min shorter commute
Round O, SC 29474 75%727$40,781$143,100$237 10 min shorter commute
Rockford, AL 35136 75%431$50,114$140,300$154 larger · younger residents · 11 min shorter commute
Blue Creek, OH 45616 75%554$67,614$182,700$166 pricier homes ($25K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Rush, CO 80833 75%645$42,139$195,700$244 pricier homes ($38K more) · newer homes
Shacklefords, VA 23156 74%895$36,179$196,700$209 pricier homes ($39K more) · 10 min shorter commute
Long Island, VA 24569 74%762$50,179$187,100$96 pricier homes ($30K more) · more homeowners · older homes
Woodland, GA 31836 74%518$46,771$112,000$201 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Fackler, AL 35746 74%392$50,357$166,500$181 11 min shorter commute

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.