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 Barling, AR 72923

Barling: median income $54,157, home value $140,000, $160/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Comanche, TX 76442 94%342$59,853$150,300$161 Very close on everything we compare
Mineral Wells, WV 26150 93%751$61,786$172,500$146 pricier homes ($33K more)
Chesterfield, SC 29709 93%804$54,784$144,200$148 Very close on everything we compare
Moorefield, WV 26836 91%880$47,770$151,100$159 Very close on everything we compare
Benton, MO 63736 91%290$59,414$168,700$154 pricier homes ($29K more)
Diboll, TX 75941 91%287$59,593$109,900$201 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
George West, TX 78022 91%533$55,895$171,100$127 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents
Center, CO 81125 91%674$56,250$148,700$137 older homes
Chilhowie, VA 24319 90%713$52,721$156,700$138 Very close on everything we compare
Ringgold, VA 24586 90%843$53,962$156,800$162 less walkable
Mitchell, IN 47446 90%492$50,337$146,000$123 larger
Crandon, WI 54520 90%760$60,031$169,800$221 pricier homes ($30K more)
Houston, MO 65483 90%190$46,663$126,200$143 older homes
Stockton, MO 65785 90%168$50,086$175,000$153 pricier homes ($35K more) · 6 min longer commute
Reserve, LA 70084 90%425$62,047$155,400$125 Very close on everything we compare
New Roads, LA 70760 90%360$61,141$153,900$133 5 min longer commute
Machias, ME 04654 89%1,551$48,838$171,600$131 pricier homes ($32K more) · older homes
Ashford, AL 36312 89%596$56,994$160,000$156 7 min longer commute
Burkesville, KY 42717 89%508$42,978$145,100$163 Very close on everything we compare
Sulphur, OK 73086 89%162$70,471$159,000$149 larger
Antlers, OK 74523 89%107$47,702$130,100$128 Very close on everything we compare
Fairfield, TX 75840 89%270$58,224$206,200$144 pricier homes ($66K more)
Star, NC 27356 88%818$55,347$164,400$152 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Elm City, NC 27822 88%924$63,703$165,600$187 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Roanoke, AL 36274 88%532$50,621$143,200$144 larger · 6 min longer 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.