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.

Reset

Towns most like Magdalena, NM 87825

Magdalena: median income $30,596, home value $104,000, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Worthville, KY 41098 86%1,269$33,125$86,300$105 younger residents
Gainesville, MO 65655 78%852$37,337$176,000$145 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger
Eudora, AR 71640 78%920$28,461$66,000$66 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · younger residents
Lewisville, AR 71845 77%785$33,672$90,200— younger residents
Garysburg, NC 27831 76%1,675$36,136$87,300— larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Tombstone, AZ 85638 76%232$37,604$184,000$242 pricier homes ($80K more)
Castleberry, AL 36432 73%1,189$40,962$64,700$92 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 7 min longer commute
Earp, CA 92242 73%405$37,500$128,100$107 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Merry Hill, NC 27957 72%1,720$36,875$140,100$105 pricier homes ($36K more)
Waterford, MS 38685 72%1,005$41,210$124,100$158 more homeowners
Shaw, MS 38773 72%944$30,661$110,400— younger residents
Glennie, MI 48737 72%1,443$38,000$122,500$96 10 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Hermitage, MO 65668 72%821$38,449$138,400$145 pricier homes ($34K more) · 10 min longer commute · more walkable
Damascus, VA 24236 71%1,441$28,983$139,300$221 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · younger residents
Alton, VA 24520 71%1,594$42,841$120,500$289 younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Shelbiana, KY 41562 71%1,403$40,104$96,700— younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Rich Square, NC 27869 70%1,691$43,301$115,200$113 10 min longer commute
Marshallville, GA 31057 70%1,348$23,601$87,600$61 younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Georgetown, GA 39854 70%1,289$41,536$102,700$166 larger · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Alkol, WV 25501 69%1,432$42,188$109,900$24 younger residents · more homeowners
Weippe, ID 83553 69%962$39,191$204,700$167 pricier homes ($101K more)
Hyden, KY 41749 68%1,351$34,934$80,300— larger · younger residents
Krotz Springs, LA 70750 68%936$38,466$96,100$133 younger residents
Dierks, AR 71833 68%756$29,018$105,400$84 younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Chetopa, KS 67336 67%712$26,667$72,800$92 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents · more single-family 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.