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 De Kalb, TX 75559

De Kalb: median income $58,313, home value $147,400, $79/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cave City, AR 72521 95%243$59,591$146,800$97 Very close on everything we compare
Delhi, LA 71232 94%198$55,754$121,100$91 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Davis, OK 73030 94%158$59,612$157,600$96 Very close on everything we compare
Ackerman, MS 39735 93%312$51,820$147,600— smaller
Colquitt, GA 39837 93%599$52,596$121,000$107 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Ripley, MS 38663 92%337$52,141$148,200$105 larger
Ellington, MO 63638 92%330$55,257$137,500$76 smaller
England, AR 72046 92%169$56,685$107,000$84 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Wynnewood, OK 73098 92%166$55,536$169,500$81 smaller
Brasher Falls, NY 13613 91%1,316$58,846$116,600$83 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Troy, PA 16947 91%1,128$59,872$176,200$84 pricier homes ($29K more)
North Tazewell, VA 24630 91%779$57,254$107,100$96 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Luverne, AL 36049 91%502$51,126$140,900$95 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, MS 39339 91%324$48,911$133,100$82 larger
Blakely, GA 39823 91%583$55,441$151,200$106 larger
Rison, AR 71665 91%147$53,472$140,100$77 Very close on everything we compare
Stantonsburg, NC 27883 90%964$61,185$121,800$106 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 5 min longer commute
Cannelton, IN 47520 90%539$50,882$162,200$99 smaller
Hamilton, IL 62341 90%509$62,262$136,900$70 smaller · older homes
Chaffee, MO 63740 90%377$54,364$140,700$100 Very close on everything we compare
Dubach, LA 71235 90%125$58,293$182,400$110 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents
Nowata, OK 74048 90%228$52,888$132,800$103 Very close on everything we compare
Norfolk, NY 13667 89%1,306$59,849$99,700$86 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Big Stone Gap, VA 24219 89%708$55,252$160,500$106 larger
Guin, AL 35563 89%387$52,576$116,900$91 cheaper homes ($31K less)

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.