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 Milam, TX 75959

Milam: median income $68,236, home value $161,500, $151/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Deepwater, MO 64740 90%471$61,641$147,300$167 older homes
Etta, MS 38627 88%341$62,826$149,200$127 Very close on everything we compare
Scott, AR 72142 85%247$62,863$196,900$179 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · older homes
Canadian, OK 74425 83%277$63,405$154,700$155 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Cape Fair, MO 65624 81%366$61,995$237,500$136 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger · older homes
Yatesville, GA 31097 80%575$64,214$168,500$204 older homes
Seligman, AZ 86337 80%1,133$50,851$147,700$151 larger
La Luz, NM 88337 80%715$60,597$158,600$212 larger · older homes
Lakeview, AR 72642 78%349$68,810$224,100$138 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · more renters
Chester, AR 72934 78%295$59,282$177,100$266 older homes
Sharon, SC 29742 77%760$52,775$218,100$120 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · older homes
Kuttawa, KY 42055 77%507$63,456$179,400$152 larger · younger residents · older homes
Crimora, VA 24431 76%968$78,856$186,100$243 larger · younger residents · older homes
Hartsfield, GA 31756 76%583$77,375$116,100$159 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · younger residents
Leslie, GA 31764 76%575$86,573$211,500— pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · older homes
Valles Mines, MO 63087 76%493$60,313$217,200$148 pricier homes ($56K more) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Boydton, VA 23917 75%955$73,965$201,600$187 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · younger residents
Lowgap, NC 27024 75%825$62,813$188,600$191 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · younger residents
Milton, NC 27305 74%908$59,541$138,200$124 younger residents · older homes
Stapleton, AL 36578 74%362$53,490$213,900$228 pricier homes ($52K more) · older homes
Counce, TN 38326 74%406$49,026$191,900$173 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older homes
Ninnekah, OK 73067 74%337$63,603$129,000$145 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · younger residents
Ivanhoe, NC 28447 73%930$77,134$241,300— pricier homes ($80K more) · younger residents · older homes
Springville, TN 38256 73%467$56,023$166,400$174 larger · 8 min longer commute · older homes
Ovett, MS 39464 73%283$71,875$154,600$115 larger · younger residents · 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.