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 Dawson, TX 76639

Dawson: median income $48,514, home value $154,400, $125/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Humansville, MO 65674 94%444$47,500$137,000$143 Very close on everything we compare
Mill Creek, WV 26280 93%1,053$46,335$134,100$115 smaller
Rhine, GA 31077 93%793$54,688$172,600— Very close on everything we compare
Cove City, NC 28523 92%1,139$45,452$158,600$118 5 min shorter commute
Baskerville, VA 23915 91%1,101$50,815$156,600$119 smaller
Tignall, GA 30668 91%821$49,107$119,800$109 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Dutton, AL 35744 91%651$54,868$157,900$99 Very close on everything we compare
Pelham, NC 27311 90%1,033$39,044$128,200$141 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Fremont, NC 27830 90%1,105$54,129$162,900$160 larger
Middleton, TN 38052 90%500$50,588$131,800$150 larger
Walnut Grove, MS 39189 90%429$49,083$101,400— cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Climax, GA 39834 90%726$47,708$153,900— 6 min shorter commute
Brodhead, KY 40409 90%793$52,619$123,600$107 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Sheldon, MO 64784 90%423$53,654$165,700$114 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Hampton, SC 29924 89%913$43,542$165,800$131 larger · more walkable
Huron, TN 38345 89%536$48,333$218,200$123 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Frenchburg, KY 40322 89%851$52,794$139,000$136 larger · older residents
Mount Olivet, KY 41064 89%847$51,094$158,300$118 more homeowners
Piketon, OH 45661 89%909$52,633$155,100$149 larger
Racine, OH 45771 89%964$43,750$148,200$138 larger · older residents
Blackduck, MN 56630 89%1,101$50,333$176,900$110 more homeowners
Depew, OK 74028 89%267$46,500$179,100$153 more homeowners
Lamar, SC 29069 88%974$48,393$132,300$134 larger · more homeowners
Flomaton, AL 36441 88%559$50,349$138,100$109 larger · younger residents
Notasulga, AL 36866 88%645$49,028$112,900$116 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 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.