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 Waller, TX 77484

Waller: median income $81,250, home value $284,900, $149/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cameron, NC 28326 88%1,028$75,431$267,400$163 larger
Midway, GA 31320 88%869$77,195$234,100$186 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Davenport, FL 33897 88%868$70,982$307,100$190 larger
Saint Francisville, LA 70775 88%274$80,417$247,300$197 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32234 87%833$87,331$262,800$164 more homeowners
Creedmoor, NC 27522 86%1,080$77,094$270,700$184 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Ruskin, FL 33570 86%832$72,172$300,500$187 larger
Ridgeville, SC 29472 85%942$75,325$263,100$182 Very close on everything we compare
Cartersville, GA 30121 85%712$78,366$285,500$180 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Amelia, OH 45102 85%908$76,763$230,600$185 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Smyrna, DE 19977 84%1,315$76,826$341,000$182 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Angier, NC 27501 84%1,065$73,336$272,800$163 larger · more single-family homes
Broadway, NC 27505 84%1,047$79,462$191,000$175 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Franklinton, NC 27525 84%1,092$73,036$284,300$180 more single-family homes
Lillington, NC 27546 84%1,052$66,746$269,900$158 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Aberdeen, NC 28315 84%1,019$77,418$303,100$174 8 min shorter commute
Galivants Ferry, SC 29544 84%1,013$78,401$210,000$173 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Kingsland, GA 31548 84%848$75,804$250,600$182 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Glen Saint Mary, FL 32040 84%819$84,095$261,500$203 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Columbiana, AL 35051 84%588$80,061$250,000$151 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Martinsburg, WV 25404 83%1,209$70,633$246,200$184 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Middlesex, NC 27557 83%1,098$71,541$199,900$188 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller · older residents
Zebulon, NC 27597 83%1,094$84,625$312,500$183 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Rocky Point, NC 28457 83%1,093$78,178$245,900$196 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Conyers, GA 30013 83%743$74,691$308,400$153 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.