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 Luis, CO 81152

San Luis: median income $31,875, home value $120,300, $64/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
York, AL 36925 82%1,026$29,342$80,600— cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · older residents
Shaw, MS 38773 82%862$30,661$110,400— larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Isola, MS 38754 81%880$38,173$84,300$58 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more renters
Earth, TX 79031 81%262$43,750$96,600$71 Very close on everything we compare
Fordyce, AR 71742 79%768$38,843$98,200$67 larger · 7 min longer commute
Hatfield, AR 71945 79%648$38,090$111,000$92 younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Altus, AR 72821 79%662$37,083$100,000$97 larger · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Caraway, AR 72419 78%846$41,017$93,300$95 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 6 min longer commute
Kress, TX 79052 78%282$34,922$99,800$49 younger residents · more single-family homes
Bayboro, NC 28515 77%1,603$31,715$157,700$106 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Bear Creek, AL 35543 77%1,015$29,196$97,200$82 more apartments and townhomes
Lilbourn, MO 63862 77%877$43,940$81,600$64 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents
Hodge, LA 71247 77%797$34,531$76,500$93 cheaper homes ($44K less) · more renters
Wisner, LA 71378 77%860$36,950$110,700— larger · 9 min longer commute
Olney, TX 76374 77%460$43,939$121,000$79 larger
Iraan, TX 79744 77%474$42,039$101,100— younger residents
East Millinocket, ME 04430 76%1,982$42,011$86,200$88 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Rowesville, SC 29133 76%1,410$36,987$136,400— younger residents · 10 min longer commute
Sharon, TN 38255 76%922$45,990$110,400$72 larger · 6 min longer commute
Rolling Fork, MS 39159 76%875$45,995$110,700$71 larger
Griggsville, IL 62340 76%818$43,333$99,500— 8 min longer commute
Gibsland, LA 71028 76%771$36,394$93,600— cheaper homes ($27K less) · 8 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Snyder, OK 73566 76%403$42,135$106,400$56 9 min longer commute
Clayton, NM 88415 76%135$44,952$120,800$77 larger · more walkable
Brunswick, MO 65236 75%689$46,806$98,800$62 older 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.