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 Alpaugh, CA 93201

Alpaugh: median income $47,063, home value $146,900, $163/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bridgeport, WA 98813 77%838$49,969$177,000$202 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older residents
Midway Park, NC 28544 72%2,360$52,354$141,700$172 larger · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Noel, MO 64854 71%1,390$44,490$132,800$153 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
West Hamlin, WV 25571 70%2,049$49,201$116,300$140 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Peach Springs, AZ 86434 69%341$58,080$103,700— cheaper homes ($43K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Tulsa, OK 74116 67%1,318$55,156$156,200$173 larger · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Panama, OK 74951 67%1,393$49,375$124,800$126 older residents · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Sharpsburg, NC 27878 65%2,313$53,382$111,500— cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Thompson, SD 57339 65%1,200$46,136$121,700— cheaper homes ($25K less) · 15 min shorter commute
Burns Flat, OK 73624 65%1,139$45,491$106,700— cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · older residents
Calcium, NY 13616 64%2,350$45,962$144,400$182 older residents · 11 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Warner, OK 74469 64%1,354$54,899$127,200$142 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Statenville, GA 31648 63%2,124$43,750$78,400— cheaper homes ($69K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Sunflower, MS 38778 63%1,645$40,179$86,900— cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Marion, MS 39342 62%1,772$45,298$187,300— pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · more homeowners
Oil City, LA 71061 62%1,467$35,536$113,200$142 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · older residents
Fisher, WV 26818 61%2,211$42,173$129,200$194 older residents · more homeowners · newer homes
Midway, TN 37809 61%2,025$50,192$163,000$180 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Park City, KY 42160 61%1,850$49,364$157,000$155 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Oak Grove, KY 42262 61%1,778$51,975$157,000$186 larger · newer homes
New Church, VA 23415 60%2,411$46,836$177,800$206 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · older residents
Banner, KY 41603 60%2,029$62,986$202,200$103 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · older residents
Pioneer, LA 71266 60%1,609$59,554$119,400$184 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents · more homeowners
New Llano, LA 71461 58%1,541$51,042$124,500$108 larger · older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Waco, TX 76704 58%1,316$30,349$134,900$138 larger · 8 min shorter commute

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.