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 Dallas, TX 75246

Dallas: median income $53,555, home value $447,800, $256/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jacksonville, FL 32204 69%904$65,063$375,000$246 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Fall River, MA 02724 63%1,529$55,590$402,800$256 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14202 63%1,196$56,528$479,100$288 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · younger residents
Mount Rainier, MD 20712 63%1,184$68,846$527,900$298 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · younger residents
Birmingham, AL 35203 62%578$47,434$334,000$274 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · younger residents
New Orleans, LA 70113 62%441$39,333$305,800$141 cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger · younger residents
Fairview, NJ 07022 61%1,371$63,606$511,400$389 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · younger residents
Fall River, MA 02721 60%1,529$52,841$406,000$228 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · younger residents
Fall River, MA 02723 60%1,531$47,633$357,800$244 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · younger residents
New Haven, CT 06519 59%1,433$49,619$316,700$181 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger · younger residents
Paterson, NJ 07513 59%1,365$68,630$423,500$390 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Spring Park, MN 55384 59%855$48,315$661,600$452 pricier homes ($214K more) · older residents · newer homes
Hartford, CT 06105 58%1,455$41,937$402,300$157 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · younger residents
Elizabeth, NJ 07201 58%1,358$60,080$467,500$296 larger · younger residents
Duluth, MN 55802 58%997$51,544$494,400$439 pricier homes ($47K more) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Paterson, NJ 07514 57%1,366$70,205$342,900$302 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14209 57%1,197$50,046$429,400$157 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Louisville, KY 40202 57%725$35,584$257,300$258 cheaper homes ($191K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Fall River, MA 02720 56%1,531$62,196$398,000$253 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · younger residents
New Bedford, MA 02744 56%1,540$58,675$372,700$317 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · younger residents
Jacksonville, FL 32202 56%905$34,825$268,800$159 cheaper homes ($179K less) · larger · younger residents
Dania, FL 33004 56%1,102$52,574$342,400$258 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · more homeowners
Reno, NV 89501 56%1,362$33,963$414,000$352 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · older residents
Los Angeles, CA 90058 56%1,238$37,557$464,200— larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Spokane, WA 99201 56%1,489$41,171$312,600$207 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger · younger 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.