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 78248

San Antonio: median income $130,552, home value $479,500, $207/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lexington, KY 40513 95%988$128,013$497,600$201 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Paul, MN 55123 94%1,092$139,215$461,200$197 larger
Clive, IA 50325 92%872$132,121$401,100$237 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55442 91%1,103$123,859$460,100$190 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68130 91%815$133,570$396,700$163 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Charlotte, NC 28270 90%1,103$131,667$589,500$271 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55115 90%1,112$124,234$488,400$218 smaller · less walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85048 90%838$122,833$592,100$289 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55447 89%1,100$133,555$471,000$229 older homes
Unionville, CT 06085 88%1,657$141,023$413,600$263 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · older homes
Leawood, KS 66209 88%685$143,393$598,200$206 pricier homes ($119K more)
Farmington, CT 06032 87%1,658$140,912$445,400$268 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older homes
East Lyme, CT 06333 87%1,678$129,083$439,000$273 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · older homes
East Amherst, NY 14051 87%1,436$135,663$421,300$238 cheaper homes ($58K less) · less walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45242 87%1,045$124,567$447,100$249 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · older homes
Colorado Springs, CO 80919 87%739$119,518$605,900$214 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger · less walkable
Apex, NC 27523 86%1,218$135,625$659,300$252 pricier homes ($180K more) · newer homes
Raleigh, NC 27615 86%1,232$112,754$479,000$241 larger
Germantown, TN 38138 86%635$136,297$430,200$171 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · older homes
Cincinnati, OH 45249 86%1,047$105,804$495,000$214 Very close on everything we compare
Batavia, IL 60510 86%1,021$121,622$392,200$237 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger
Grover, MO 63040 86%766$133,220$426,600$188 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Littleton, CO 80129 86%780$141,667$663,800$266 pricier homes ($184K more) · larger
Littleton, CO 80130 86%778$158,741$691,800$235 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($212K more) · larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80921 86%745$141,659$683,400$210 pricier homes ($204K more) · larger · newer homes

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.