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 Ector, TX 75439

Ector: median income $64,500, home value $155,400, $166/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Lewisburg, OH 43060 95%838$62,014$170,300$178 larger
Summersville, MO 65571 94%357$60,040$140,600$167 larger
Beecher City, IL 62414 93%567$58,370$157,800— larger
Covington, PA 16917 92%1,188$62,321$156,600$187 6 min shorter commute
Elma, IA 50628 92%702$68,750$153,500— Very close on everything we compare
Barnsdall, OK 74002 92%205$66,027$125,000$203 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Imler, PA 16655 91%1,080$66,823$162,700$151 Very close on everything we compare
Shawsville, VA 24162 91%933$73,348$161,200$202 larger
Providence, NC 27315 91%974$65,272$149,600$116 larger
New Ellenton, SC 29809 91%840$55,234$154,800$156 larger
Wildwood, GA 30757 91%626$60,947$173,600$149 Very close on everything we compare
Quincy, OH 43343 91%821$63,438$156,900$167 Very close on everything we compare
Cromwell, IN 46732 91%794$58,906$174,800$166 larger
Wilson, MI 49896 91%958$56,167$164,800$163 larger
Maysville, MO 64469 91%450$62,059$154,000$132 larger
Ravenwood, MO 64479 91%476$61,184$150,700— Very close on everything we compare
Huntington, AR 72940 91%152$58,056$167,300$152 larger
Sumiton, AL 35148 90%531$56,574$162,700$144 larger
Columbia, AL 36319 90%667$62,159$165,600$143 larger
Inverness, MS 38753 90%327$59,000$159,300— 6 min shorter commute
Vanderbilt, MI 49795 90%1,010$57,019$166,500$163 larger
Eolia, MO 63344 90%488$69,250$186,100$178 pricier homes ($31K more) · more homeowners
La Plata, MO 63549 90%491$59,881$135,600$140 larger
Ridgeway, MO 64481 90%488$55,341$120,200— cheaper homes ($35K less)
Niangua, MO 65713 90%329$63,750$197,100$128 pricier homes ($42K 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.