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 Bentonville, AR 72713

Bentonville: median income $119,853, home value $409,200, $210/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waukee, IA 50263 85%366$102,762$352,800$241 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more homeowners
San Antonio, TX 78258 85%519$117,835$480,500$194 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · older residents
Ankeny, IA 50023 82%376$117,826$345,100$231 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · more homeowners
Lexington, KY 40509 81%559$94,804$366,300$191 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Amarillo, TX 79119 81%436$114,432$366,000$191 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Madison, WI 53718 80%541$102,843$363,600$227 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · older residents
Overland Park, KS 66223 80%177$114,855$437,500$186 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents · older homes
Richardson, TX 75082 80%265$110,534$492,900$200 pricier homes ($84K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Worth, TX 76177 80%287$104,189$376,000$173 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 8 min longer commute
Durham, NC 27713 79%861$100,676$418,400$226 larger · older homes
The Colony, TX 75056 79%265$119,682$458,200$223 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · older residents
College Station, TX 77845 79%416$88,851$365,100$195 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Knoxville, TN 37932 78%570$119,703$463,100$223 pricier homes ($54K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Johnston, IA 50131 78%372$106,551$369,400$228 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents · more homeowners
North Liberty, IA 52317 78%403$105,318$322,800$175 cheaper homes ($86K less) · more homeowners
Carrollton, TX 75010 78%268$107,317$484,800$241 pricier homes ($76K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
San Antonio, TX 78259 78%519$114,156$380,800$171 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Huntsville, AL 35806 77%445$86,768$347,700$174 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($62K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Grimes, IA 50111 77%374$120,769$308,800$228 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller · older residents
Verona, WI 53593 77%528$135,023$483,700$266 pricier homes ($75K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Mckinney, TX 75070 77%251$112,352$465,800$206 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · older residents
Round Rock, TX 78665 77%444$122,680$474,100$183 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger · older residents
Austin, TX 78748 77%469$115,213$465,100$240 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · older residents
Jacksonville, FL 32258 76%851$102,204$370,700$197 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Dublin, OH 43016 76%661$109,972$452,000$211 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · older residents

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.