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 Albuquerque, NM 87105

Albuquerque: median income $55,644, home value $220,900, $203/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portsmouth, VA 23701 92%1,694$62,349$235,200$203 smaller
Dallas, TX 75232 92%588$61,847$220,100$164 smaller
Vineland, NJ 08360 90%1,760$65,359$221,900$198 Very close on everything we compare
Kannapolis, NC 28083 90%1,468$66,257$224,700$201 smaller
Louisville, KY 40216 90%1,174$56,441$167,100$150 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Des Moines, IA 50317 90%844$65,617$177,600$203 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Tucson, AZ 85730 90%309$62,090$246,100$203 pricier homes ($25K more)
Louisville, KY 40258 89%1,172$68,162$183,500$156 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Millville, NJ 08332 88%1,758$67,496$214,200$192 smaller
Port Richey, FL 34668 88%1,482$47,401$191,600$183 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63125 88%937$61,624$178,600$155 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Knoxville, TN 37914 87%1,283$59,856$218,300$186 smaller
Independence, MO 64055 87%731$62,439$176,700$142 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Zion, IL 60099 86%1,134$66,109$196,700$187 smaller · younger residents
Marrero, LA 70072 86%1,029$54,885$193,600$146 cheaper homes ($27K less) · less walkable
Irving, TX 75060 86%579$71,575$249,800$198 pricier homes ($29K more)
Dallas, TX 75241 86%592$53,998$192,000$163 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Greenville, SC 29617 85%1,368$55,403$234,500$182 smaller
Louisville, KY 40272 85%1,173$69,940$176,200$164 cheaper homes ($45K less) · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43207 85%1,339$63,310$180,800$174 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more renters
Dayton, OH 45414 85%1,273$54,485$182,300$145 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Beloit, WI 53511 85%1,078$67,067$173,500$164 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older homes
San Antonio, TX 78221 85%620$63,811$171,200$134 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents
Robstown, TX 78380 85%728$54,769$165,600$148 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Aberdeen, WA 98520 85%1,210$58,153$250,800$169 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · 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.