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 Surprise, AZ 85388

Surprise: median income $112,164, home value $459,900, $221/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lawrenceville, GA 30045 94%1,631$104,350$377,800$174 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Clermont, FL 34715 94%1,843$105,262$437,800$220 Very close on everything we compare
Dacula, GA 30019 93%1,635$116,583$440,700$168 Very close on everything we compare
Midlothian, TX 76065 93%898$127,756$425,100$189 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Canton, GA 30115 92%1,603$113,089$485,500$203 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Indian Trail, NC 28079 91%1,809$100,516$395,700$193 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Braselton, GA 30517 91%1,640$118,034$411,200$173 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Hoschton, GA 30548 91%1,640$111,257$460,800$195 older residents
Apopka, FL 32712 91%1,853$108,734$422,700$208 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Wesley Chapel, FL 33545 91%1,818$118,889$399,400$193 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Riverview, FL 33579 91%1,830$116,134$415,500$180 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 5 min longer commute
Anna, TX 75409 91%915$104,814$353,600$166 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Hutto, TX 78634 91%896$114,426$375,200$172 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Kuna, ID 83634 91%714$97,171$432,600$272 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89178 91%230$108,806$470,600$247 Very close on everything we compare
Bakersfield, CA 93314 91%402$126,250$543,900$245 pricier homes ($84K more)
King George, VA 22485 90%1,990$117,560$428,300$197 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 6 min longer commute
Winchester, VA 22602 90%1,928$101,398$379,700$214 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Buford, GA 30519 90%1,632$102,553$413,000$182 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Jefferson, GA 30549 90%1,652$96,195$350,500$184 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Land O Lakes, FL 34639 90%1,810$101,486$383,500$211 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Rowlett, TX 75089 90%919$118,318$382,400$177 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Arlington, TX 76002 90%891$100,667$339,100$167 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Baytown, TX 77523 90%1,066$124,188$372,100$174 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Peyton, CO 80831 90%574$132,467$548,800$183 pricier homes ($89K 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.