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 San Antonio, TX 78203

San Antonio: median income $35,536, home value $158,000, $191/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Savannah, GA 31415 93%1,044$37,109$149,700$167 larger
Omaha, NE 68110 85%833$39,813$132,800$122 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Jacksonville, FL 32206 81%1,008$39,242$173,400$134 larger
Chattanooga, TN 37407 81%861$35,845$98,900$168 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · younger residents
Portsmouth, VA 23702 80%1,375$48,835$208,000$184 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Louisville, KY 40215 79%946$43,725$114,900$143 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Jacksonville, FL 32254 78%1,003$34,953$110,500$152 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43211 78%1,141$42,579$112,700$152 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Des Moines, IA 50314 77%884$39,950$147,900$140 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Tulsa, OK 74106 77%490$40,776$109,500$123 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Chattanooga, TN 37406 76%864$44,850$168,000$176 larger · newer homes
Dayton, OH 45404 76%1,081$38,874$86,900$119 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Racine, WI 53404 76%1,094$50,428$129,800$172 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73108 76%420$37,168$80,700$167 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Norfolk, VA 23523 75%1,378$35,533$224,600$153 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Kansas City, KS 66101 75%705$42,551$106,300$123 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Lamont, CA 93241 75%1,258$33,417$211,900$239 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · newer homes
Pueblo, CO 81003 73%707$43,705$198,700$168 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43227 72%1,142$48,159$152,800$155 larger
Hamilton, OH 45015 72%1,047$48,312$120,700$169 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more homeowners
Hammond, IN 46327 72%1,043$47,288$142,100$182 larger · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Lafayette, IN 47904 72%1,003$51,687$133,100$163 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Kansas City, MO 64124 72%706$46,241$112,000$130 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · older homes
Birmingham, AL 35212 71%746$36,633$232,100$188 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
Louisville, KY 40210 71%947$35,347$98,700$99 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · 6 min longer 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.