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 North Zulch, TX 77872

North Zulch: median income $87,188, home value $190,300, $241/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hindsville, AR 72738 94%382$86,296$229,000$211 pricier homes ($39K more)
Clarendon, NC 28432 93%1,032$90,815$160,200$211 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Middletown, MO 63359 92%624$75,227$160,200— cheaper homes ($30K less)
Olympia, KY 40358 91%860$92,143$220,000— pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · younger residents
Berry, KY 41003 91%847$79,625$157,000$251 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · older residents
Vanleer, TN 37181 90%617$78,625$215,500$259 pricier homes ($25K more) · older residents
Sterling, CT 06377 89%1,535$97,308$275,900$298 pricier homes ($86K more)
Hartly, DE 19953 89%1,282$81,792$246,700$219 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Carlton, GA 30627 89%791$75,000$207,300$179 Very close on everything we compare
Shiloh, GA 31826 89%681$85,376$175,700$262 more renters
Woodlawn, TN 37191 89%625$91,455$271,000$197 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger
Roopville, GA 30170 88%662$90,962$222,000$189 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Smithville, GA 31787 88%702$92,554$180,400$186 smaller · older residents
Soso, MS 39480 88%404$74,853$183,100$188 Very close on everything we compare
Amesville, OH 45711 88%988$79,464$219,500$165 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Borden, IN 47106 88%776$87,344$207,700$168 larger
Wheeler, WI 54772 88%1,003$88,750$182,100$191 smaller · older residents
Ogilvie, MN 56358 88%1,041$83,594$260,700$211 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · older residents
Bliss, NY 14024 87%1,269$86,833$137,100$193 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Saxe, VA 23967 87%1,081$73,264$117,500— cheaper homes ($73K less)
Fruithurst, AL 36262 87%652$68,611$155,600— cheaper homes ($35K less)
Birchwood, TN 37308 87%712$80,394$253,100$197 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Buckley, MI 49620 87%1,096$75,192$225,000$224 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Adrian, MO 64720 87%526$75,479$190,900$182 larger
Shoshone, ID 83352 87%1,303$70,057$259,500$202 pricier homes ($69K more) · 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.