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 78249

San Antonio: median income $80,565, home value $305,400, $169/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Norman, OK 73072 95%395$78,546$306,500$171 Very close on everything we compare
Greenville, SC 29607 88%1,016$74,503$359,500$194 pricier homes ($54K more) · older residents
Jacksonville, FL 32246 87%1,024$80,963$312,900$222 older residents
Raleigh, NC 27616 86%1,243$83,565$349,300$183 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28273 86%1,099$87,350$340,600$197 pricier homes ($35K more)
Kennesaw, GA 30144 86%878$88,560$345,900$188 pricier homes ($41K more)
Lexington, KY 40509 85%1,000$94,804$366,300$191 pricier homes ($61K more) · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28269 84%1,108$81,517$341,700$197 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Conway, AR 72034 84%523$65,635$274,200$163 cheaper homes ($31K less) · less walkable
Raleigh, NC 27603 83%1,234$90,484$383,200$209 pricier homes ($78K more) · older residents
Cordova, TN 38016 83%644$76,569$282,800$133 older residents
Ypsilanti, MI 48197 83%1,209$73,737$294,500$186 older homes
Lafayette, LA 70508 82%397$86,005$305,300$163 smaller · older residents
Maumelle, AR 72113 82%515$79,248$291,700$158 smaller · older residents
Harrisonburg, VA 22801 81%1,283$72,067$364,300$202 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Durham, NC 27703 81%1,228$89,317$378,400$201 pricier homes ($73K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Lexington, KY 40511 81%1,000$79,540$252,400$180 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · older residents
Allendale, MI 49401 81%1,162$74,880$321,500$217 smaller · younger residents
Norman, OK 73071 81%398$64,007$215,200$160 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Glassboro, NJ 08028 80%1,502$89,130$312,100$218 smaller · older homes
Raleigh, NC 27604 80%1,240$70,375$349,200$208 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents
Orlando, FL 32835 80%1,036$71,418$349,100$211 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents
Wichita, KS 67226 80%570$92,341$304,500$136 smaller · older residents
Little Rock, AR 72211 80%509$83,134$284,100$157 smaller · older residents
Jacksonville, FL 32224 79%1,028$88,259$458,100$265 pricier homes ($153K more) · smaller

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.