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 El Paso, TX 79915

El Paso: median income $35,432, home value $123,200, $143/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gainesville, FL 32641 87%1,440$35,223$144,000$164 smaller
Pensacola, FL 32505 84%1,133$44,783$136,500$135 younger residents
Roanoke, VA 24017 83%1,544$47,360$150,600$114 pricier homes ($27K more)
Jacksonville, FL 32208 83%1,460$41,324$157,800$124 pricier homes ($35K more) · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Jacksonville, FL 32209 83%1,461$30,514$97,700$102 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more renters
Roswell, NM 88203 83%155$42,207$126,600$117 less walkable
Cleveland, OH 44128 82%1,524$43,993$98,500$98 Very close on everything we compare
Little Rock, AR 72204 82%836$40,882$124,700$84 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73111 82%573$40,340$120,700$111 smaller
Tulsa, OK 74106 82%669$40,776$109,500$123 smaller · more renters
Columbus, OH 43227 81%1,426$48,159$152,800$155 pricier homes ($30K more)
Louisville, KY 40215 80%1,244$43,725$114,900$143 smaller · more renters
Flint, MI 48507 80%1,458$46,554$111,300$88 Very close on everything we compare
Burton, MI 48529 80%1,461$41,333$86,700$113 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Springfield, IL 62703 80%1,087$45,009$96,500$97 cheaper homes ($27K less)
West Memphis, AR 72301 80%961$42,859$120,100$115 younger residents · more renters
Sheffield, AL 35660 79%1,097$40,065$135,400$113 smaller · less walkable
Independence, MO 64050 79%842$48,834$145,300$156 smaller · more renters
Brunswick, GA 31520 78%1,463$40,071$147,500$155 smaller · more renters · less walkable
Evansville, IN 47710 78%1,147$47,292$147,300$125 smaller · less walkable
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 78%1,309$39,499$159,600$149 pricier homes ($36K more) · less walkable
Springfield, IL 62702 78%1,089$51,136$103,500$100 Very close on everything we compare
Tulsa, OK 74127 78%666$46,373$134,200$126 smaller
Rocky Mount, NC 27801 77%1,661$44,884$115,400$109 smaller · younger residents · more renters
Columbia, SC 29203 77%1,475$46,054$141,300$148 younger residents · more renters

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.