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 Norman, OK 73072

Norman: median income $78,546, home value $306,500, $171/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Antonio, TX 78249 95%395$80,565$305,400$169 Very close on everything we compare
El Paso, TX 79912 93%571$72,943$264,200$176 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Ypsilanti, MI 48197 91%889$73,737$294,500$186 Very close on everything we compare
Little Rock, AR 72211 89%288$83,134$284,100$157 smaller · older residents
Greenville, SC 29607 88%856$74,503$359,500$194 pricier homes ($53K more)
Westerville, OH 43081 88%865$92,422$329,800$209 older residents
Columbus, OH 43230 88%865$91,424$306,500$206 older residents
Rochester, MN 55901 88%666$94,607$317,000$177 Very close on everything we compare
Kennesaw, GA 30144 87%736$88,560$345,900$188 pricier homes ($39K more) · 5 min longer commute
Auburn, AL 36830 87%713$70,188$367,700$219 pricier homes ($61K more)
Lexington, KY 40509 87%749$94,804$366,300$191 pricier homes ($60K more) · older residents
Lafayette, LA 70508 87%471$86,005$305,300$163 older residents
Baton Rouge, LA 70809 87%497$79,967$324,000$182 smaller · older residents
San Antonio, TX 78232 87%392$85,273$362,000$188 pricier homes ($56K more) · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28269 86%939$81,517$341,700$197 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · older residents
Macon, GA 31210 86%802$78,447$285,800$130 smaller · older residents
Jacksonville, FL 32246 86%987$80,963$312,900$222 Very close on everything we compare
Hattiesburg, MS 39402 86%540$75,220$253,900$153 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older residents
Lexington, KY 40515 86%746$86,268$340,500$191 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents
Kalamazoo, MI 49009 86%801$80,930$346,600$181 pricier homes ($40K more) · older residents · less walkable
Columbia, MO 65203 86%382$79,960$348,800$176 pricier homes ($42K more) · older residents
Wichita, KS 67226 86%176$92,341$304,500$136 smaller · older residents
Conway, AR 72034 86%283$65,635$274,200$163 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Tallahassee, FL 32303 85%830$62,275$228,000$178 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Birmingham, AL 35216 85%622$74,525$398,200$192 pricier homes ($92K more) · older homes

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.