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 Shallowater, TX 79363

Shallowater: median income $96,128, home value $210,100, $191/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elk Mound, WI 54739 95%947$88,667$260,400$180 pricier homes ($50K more)
Holts Summit, MO 65043 95%647$85,308$218,500$165 larger
Hallsville, MO 65255 95%659$83,900$262,200$201 pricier homes ($52K more)
Strafford, MO 65757 95%557$85,243$235,500$185 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Nashport, OH 43830 93%1,180$88,346$234,100$186 older homes
Caledonia, MS 39740 92%785$83,240$189,900$143 Very close on everything we compare
Willard, MO 65781 92%542$83,816$235,300$174 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Oologah, OK 74053 92%403$90,494$239,200$174 pricier homes ($29K more)
Sperry, OK 74073 92%384$87,045$271,100$171 pricier homes ($61K more)
Wade, NC 28395 91%1,326$84,375$263,000$166 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Brusly, LA 70719 91%668$105,522$233,100$163 younger residents
Jones, OK 73049 91%297$94,891$261,500$221 pricier homes ($51K more)
Pinebluff, NC 28373 90%1,285$81,538$224,400$199 smaller
Mount Airy, GA 30563 90%1,059$84,561$240,500$184 pricier homes ($30K more)
Moundville, AL 35474 90%832$87,933$206,000$145 larger
Leesburg, OH 45135 90%1,093$79,629$210,000$165 Very close on everything we compare
Ellettsville, IN 47429 90%935$92,378$246,800$179 pricier homes ($37K more)
Coopersville, MI 49404 90%1,080$86,096$295,100$195 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger
Hartford, SD 57033 90%737$105,560$289,600$202 pricier homes ($80K more)
Gravette, AR 72736 90%464$79,209$279,000$194 pricier homes ($69K more)
Delmar, MD 21875 89%1,506$83,665$234,500$166 Very close on everything we compare
Winfield, WV 25213 89%1,167$100,711$268,600$164 pricier homes ($59K more)
Walkertown, NC 27051 89%1,245$74,804$209,900$181 Very close on everything we compare
Juliette, GA 31046 89%1,047$95,644$274,000$184 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller · older residents
Morris, AL 35116 89%873$88,274$237,000$157 pricier homes ($27K more) · 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.