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 Dexter, NM 88230

Dexter: median income $43,469, home value $104,800, $117/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Perry, FL 32347 94%1,237$44,183$112,400$121 larger
Coeburn, VA 24230 93%1,263$48,573$101,600$123 larger
Bald Knob, AR 72010 92%747$48,305$120,100$120 Very close on everything we compare
Sulligent, AL 35586 91%935$38,286$115,300$89 Very close on everything we compare
Red Level, AL 36474 91%1,043$44,141$113,100$114 smaller · older residents
De Kalb, MS 39328 91%907$42,930$95,400— Very close on everything we compare
Collins, MS 39428 90%871$46,466$102,900$126 larger
Cross City, FL 32628 89%1,270$44,567$130,700$175 pricier homes ($26K more)
Harold, KY 41635 89%1,259$41,292$78,300$104 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Collinsville, AL 35961 88%1,065$46,224$100,200$182 Very close on everything we compare
Frisco City, AL 36445 88%999$39,421$102,600$103 5 min longer commute
Henry, TN 38231 88%929$37,188$88,100$120 smaller
Baldwyn, MS 38824 88%907$48,151$104,700$120 larger · more single-family homes
Seminary, MS 39479 88%877$47,426$136,200$145 pricier homes ($31K more) · 6 min longer commute
East Bernstadt, KY 40729 88%1,174$47,077$104,700$119 6 min longer commute
Oberlin, LA 70655 88%705$50,893$90,600— Very close on everything we compare
Hazlehurst, GA 31539 87%1,271$38,737$119,300$136 larger
Meigs, GA 31765 87%1,195$42,083$100,800— smaller · 5 min longer commute
Pelham, GA 31779 87%1,190$47,530$112,000$91 larger
Vernon, AL 35592 87%938$45,526$119,900$102 older residents
Newton, MS 39345 87%884$40,105$89,200$90 Very close on everything we compare
Gray, KY 40734 87%1,180$42,500$131,700$152 pricier homes ($27K more)
Hartford, MI 49057 87%1,171$51,345$118,400$134 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia, LA 71418 87%717$40,785$91,500$121 5 min longer commute · more renters
Harrisburg, AR 72432 87%796$55,827$116,100$124 Very close on everything we compare

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.