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 Ranger, TX 76470

Ranger: median income $39,434, home value $81,100, $88/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bismarck, MO 63624 91%584$41,984$90,400$68 Very close on everything we compare
Denmark, SC 29042 90%1,018$41,047$88,200$86 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Qulin, MO 63961 90%557$39,167$90,200$93 smaller
Senath, MO 63876 89%548$34,837$95,900— smaller
Clarendon, AR 72029 89%453$35,515$66,800— smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Saint Paul, VA 24283 87%976$40,402$114,200$72 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Newton, MS 39345 87%554$40,105$89,200$90 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Wewoka, OK 74884 87%219$46,658$88,600$97 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Chattahoochee, FL 32324 86%824$40,164$82,400$87 older residents
Mobile, AL 36612 86%632$38,056$90,900$101 more single-family homes
Bruce, MS 38915 86%549$44,375$99,300$89 older residents
Coffeeville, MS 38922 86%530$36,473$104,400$100 Very close on everything we compare
Durant, MS 39063 86%514$30,967$80,400$91 6 min longer commute
Monticello, MS 39654 86%505$41,370$106,300$81 pricier homes ($25K more) · newer homes
Konawa, OK 74849 86%206$41,053$91,100$96 older residents
Ware Shoals, SC 29692 85%954$47,068$99,600$125 larger
Louisville, GA 30434 85%947$51,323$96,400$81 larger
Homerville, GA 31634 85%939$46,332$92,300$116 larger · newer homes
Lawrenceville, VA 23868 84%1,220$45,458$133,200$103 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Murfreesboro, NC 27855 84%1,256$42,938$99,600$112 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Reform, AL 35481 84%621$45,207$84,000$98 Very close on everything we compare
Brantley, AL 36009 84%729$38,995$114,200— pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · older residents
Charleston, MS 38921 84%506$37,326$102,000$55 newer homes
Hanover, IL 61041 84%817$45,938$114,900$112 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Homer, LA 71040 84%329$31,678$79,600$101 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.