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 Lyford, TX 78569

Lyford: median income $58,950, home value $117,000, $150/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sterling, MI 48659 94%1,441$58,750$146,200$137 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Lead Hill, AR 72644 94%744$53,894$109,500$146 smaller
Lewisburg, KY 42256 93%967$58,794$140,400$153 Very close on everything we compare
Woodville, AL 35776 92%892$54,458$159,400$165 pricier homes ($42K more)
Junction City, KY 40440 92%1,082$54,500$134,700$199 smaller
Fredonia, KY 42411 92%940$61,063$97,100$114 smaller
Hustonville, KY 40437 91%1,074$53,775$126,000$170 Very close on everything we compare
Galatia, IL 62935 91%953$60,238$105,400$144 smaller
Centerville, PA 16404 90%1,471$65,972$156,200— pricier homes ($39K more)
Cool Ridge, WV 25825 90%1,246$57,795$138,400$179 smaller
Belle Center, OH 43310 90%1,262$68,388$163,300$160 pricier homes ($46K more)
Perrysville, OH 44864 90%1,323$66,250$160,500$146 pricier homes ($44K more)
Manton, MI 49663 90%1,422$55,733$156,100$177 pricier homes ($39K more)
Franklinville, NY 14737 89%1,551$60,270$104,600$111 Very close on everything we compare
Faison, NC 28341 89%1,310$57,431$119,900$167 smaller
Ramer, TN 38367 89%808$58,571$160,200$174 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Glen, MS 38846 89%806$60,078$159,500$136 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Benton, MS 39039 89%631$60,175$145,000$143 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Calhoun, KY 42327 89%986$66,836$167,500$131 pricier homes ($51K more)
Dixon, KY 42409 89%967$60,000$155,000$127 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Rome, OH 44085 89%1,423$66,136$159,100$197 pricier homes ($42K more)
Sheridan, MI 48884 89%1,364$62,750$182,100$178 pricier homes ($65K more)
Grand Junction, MI 49056 89%1,287$63,438$158,500$196 pricier homes ($42K more)
Hersey, MI 49639 89%1,390$64,388$153,100$160 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · older residents
Marion, MI 49665 89%1,408$54,265$150,800$152 pricier homes ($34K more)

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.