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 Katy, TX 77494

Katy: median income $148,720, home value $476,200, $173/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Suwanee, GA 30024 92%753$143,879$551,000$207 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller
Wake Forest, NC 27587 88%1,090$133,743$497,800$203 smaller
Fishers, IN 46037 88%900$141,810$434,200$165 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Holly Springs, NC 27540 83%1,066$128,989$522,500$239 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Huntersville, NC 28078 83%954$120,831$473,900$221 lower income ($28K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Parker, CO 80134 83%845$146,778$677,700$225 pricier homes ($202K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Cumming, GA 30040 82%751$137,211$526,100$219 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Cumming, GA 30041 82%753$152,564$574,300$219 pricier homes ($98K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Aurora, CO 80016 81%848$150,492$761,700$200 pricier homes ($286K more) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28278 80%944$125,470$460,600$207 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Collierville, TN 38017 80%513$138,677$495,200$180 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · older homes
Westfield, IN 46074 80%898$126,724$437,100$195 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Apex, NC 27502 79%1,069$143,922$550,900$241 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Fort Mill, SC 29708 79%939$132,018$515,200$226 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Alpharetta, GA 30004 79%740$156,100$657,700$249 pricier homes ($182K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Duluth, GA 30097 78%746$124,890$625,100$217 pricier homes ($149K more) · smaller · older residents
Glen Allen, VA 23059 77%1,183$157,897$593,700$238 pricier homes ($118K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Alpharetta, GA 30022 77%741$153,294$635,300$238 pricier homes ($159K more) · smaller · older residents
Kennesaw, GA 30152 77%718$126,578$427,500$191 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Saint Johns, FL 32259 77%855$150,736$533,400$237 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Winter Garden, FL 34787 77%863$120,365$539,500$254 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($63K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Castle Rock, CO 80104 77%840$134,335$624,200$222 pricier homes ($148K more) · smaller
Mason, OH 45040 75%931$133,240$440,000$209 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Windsor, CO 80550 75%901$126,132$582,000$223 pricier homes ($106K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Apex, NC 27539 74%1,069$145,947$565,600$237 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute

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.