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 Mayer, AZ 86333

Mayer: median income $55,602, home value $229,500, $241/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bonneau, SC 29431 93%1,845$58,571$220,600$218 Very close on everything we compare
Maysville, GA 30558 93%1,625$62,417$244,300$198 Very close on everything we compare
Pikeville, TN 37367 93%1,521$55,154$190,600$219 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Rutledge, TN 37861 93%1,613$52,265$213,600$238 5 min shorter commute
Branford, FL 32008 92%1,731$59,681$168,800$270 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Hawthorne, FL 32640 92%1,784$60,208$169,900$197 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Eclectic, AL 36024 91%1,504$57,595$243,000$277 Very close on everything we compare
Tellico Plains, TN 37385 91%1,574$60,472$217,300$212 Very close on everything we compare
Vale, NC 28168 90%1,732$61,220$205,000$190 larger
Marietta, SC 29661 90%1,677$55,099$180,900$223 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents
Pierre Part, LA 70339 90%1,260$51,659$170,500$236 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Kingston, OK 73439 90%881$55,865$171,100$187 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Magalia, CA 95954 90%645$61,280$292,400$184 pricier homes ($63K more)
Morriston, FL 32668 89%1,768$58,299$225,000$233 7 min shorter commute
Bushnell, FL 33513 89%1,802$67,597$218,200$231 larger
Decatur, TN 37322 89%1,545$57,929$171,300$202 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Cosby, TN 37722 89%1,632$55,000$203,500$239 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 8 min longer commute
Windsor, ME 04363 88%2,346$63,178$228,800$247 smaller
Webster, FL 33597 88%1,809$62,898$245,000$223 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Spring City, TN 37381 88%1,543$56,869$230,100$158 larger
Luttrell, TN 37779 88%1,599$51,357$162,900$185 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · younger residents
Parrottsville, TN 37843 88%1,639$58,021$180,400$191 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Sabattus, ME 04280 87%2,321$62,455$197,700$251 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Wedowee, AL 36278 87%1,527$58,214$261,000$240 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Limestone, TN 37681 87%1,662$65,857$177,300$165 cheaper homes ($52K less)

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.