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 78230

San Antonio: median income $73,529, home value $386,600, $188/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Durham, NC 27707 92%1,221$74,406$407,800$249 younger residents
Greenville, SC 29615 92%1,016$76,117$377,500$212 less walkable
Raleigh, NC 27604 91%1,237$70,375$349,200$208 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Tallahassee, FL 32308 91%859$77,967$328,000$217 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32835 91%1,033$71,418$349,100$211 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Louisville, KY 40222 91%954$82,511$363,000$193 smaller
Bloomington, IN 47401 90%953$66,906$364,600$191 Very close on everything we compare
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 89%895$79,309$486,800$210 pricier homes ($100K more)
Gainesville, FL 32606 89%969$87,953$347,800$189 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43235 89%1,143$86,666$383,500$206 Very close on everything we compare
Greenville, SC 29607 88%1,014$74,503$359,500$194 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35216 88%743$74,525$398,200$192 younger residents
Hopkins, MN 55343 88%1,098$83,143$381,500$212 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Lenexa, KS 66215 88%686$88,232$338,800$189 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Metairie, LA 70002 88%504$65,436$381,800$161 smaller
Albuquerque, NM 87109 88%607$58,900$325,800$216 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Newport News, VA 23606 87%1,372$72,874$327,200$205 cheaper homes ($59K less) · younger residents
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 87%1,036$70,955$325,300$204 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Winter Park, FL 32792 87%1,043$69,200$374,200$256 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46240 87%1,004$75,156$348,000$207 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Waukesha, WI 53186 87%1,092$74,588$301,100$224 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Madison, WI 53704 87%1,067$74,034$318,400$265 cheaper homes ($68K less) · older homes
Omaha, NE 68114 87%822$69,469$294,200$177 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller · older homes
Tulsa, OK 74133 87%475$74,005$278,300$137 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Orlando, FL 32812 86%1,042$73,149$375,200$235 Very close on everything we compare

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.