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 75252

Dallas: median income $85,000, home value $580,600, $241/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Raleigh, NC 27612 92%1,049$95,988$529,000$261 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Raleigh, NC 27609 91%1,052$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Durham, NC 27705 90%1,036$73,066$455,000$261 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger
Nashville, TN 37209 88%605$81,423$529,800$333 cheaper homes ($51K less) · younger residents
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 88%957$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($174K less)
Middleton, WI 53562 88%802$101,381$532,200$270 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Towson, MD 21204 87%1,206$99,606$594,800$261 older homes
Smyrna, GA 30080 87%711$91,957$450,400$227 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 87%727$79,309$486,800$210 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Atlanta, GA 30341 87%723$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($118K less) · younger residents
Columbus, OH 43220 87%903$74,298$473,500$241 cheaper homes ($107K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Denver, CO 80237 87%643$85,705$582,500$241 more apartments and townhomes
Charlotte, NC 28210 86%923$100,824$531,700$315 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30328 86%717$112,111$561,900$236 higher income ($27K more)
Charlottesville, VA 22901 85%1,082$92,145$501,700$272 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33611 85%920$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Naperville, IL 60563 85%769$109,783$435,600$271 cheaper homes ($145K less)
Atlanta, GA 30350 84%720$88,118$516,000$194 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Overland Park, KS 66210 84%426$95,636$373,200$185 cheaper homes ($207K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Broomfield, CO 80021 84%663$110,038$568,000$292 higher income ($25K more)
Englewood, CO 80112 84%640$108,874$659,200$282 pricier homes ($79K more)
Fort Collins, CO 80526 84%695$88,686$551,800$273 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Exton, PA 19341 83%1,267$121,680$509,300$249 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($71K less)
Charlottesville, VA 22902 83%1,085$93,463$436,200$290 cheaper homes ($144K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 83%1,205$100,697$613,600$349 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger

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.