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 Marion, TX 78124

Marion: median income $74,192, home value $282,700, $146/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Calhoun, LA 71225 94%401$74,873$210,000$170 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Snow Camp, NC 27349 93%1,171$68,807$229,700$167 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Frederica, DE 19946 92%1,446$80,459$302,800$201 Very close on everything we compare
East Bend, NC 27018 92%1,118$73,438$234,500$159 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Iron Station, NC 28080 91%1,072$71,997$268,500$200 5 min shorter commute
Jackson Springs, NC 27281 90%1,145$74,547$292,400$193 smaller
Brooklet, GA 30415 90%996$76,895$184,500$183 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Grand Island, FL 32735 90%990$68,441$273,300$166 6 min shorter commute
Fair Haven, MI 48023 90%1,249$70,469$244,200$164 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Garfield, AR 72732 90%533$70,850$252,000$181 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more single-family homes
Mounds, OK 74047 90%453$72,292$210,300$161 cheaper homes ($72K less) · younger residents
Bonanza, OR 97623 90%1,557$66,927$292,300$110 smaller
Gilbert, SC 29054 89%1,029$91,099$283,500$177 larger
Campobello, SC 29322 89%1,008$69,656$242,400$195 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Aynor, SC 29511 89%1,154$69,507$252,900$200 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Nicholson, GA 30565 89%919$75,179$266,600$174 7 min shorter commute
Lizella, GA 31052 89%875$84,846$229,000$140 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more single-family homes
Panama City, FL 32409 89%747$64,516$275,700$185 larger
Umatilla, FL 32784 89%993$72,201$272,800$192 larger · older homes
Columbiana, AL 35051 89%724$80,061$250,000$151 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · younger residents
Elberta, AL 36530 89%634$63,393$280,100$208 Very close on everything we compare
Brandenburg, KY 40108 89%901$77,559$221,800$158 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Hinckley, MN 55037 89%1,172$68,380$230,700$170 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Bates City, MO 64011 89%693$82,981$377,100$200 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller
Pearl River, LA 70452 89%505$62,917$233,400$159 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · 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.