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 Aberdeen, WA 98520

Aberdeen: median income $58,153, home value $250,800, $169/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portsmouth, VA 23701 90%2,497$62,349$235,200$203 Very close on everything we compare
Panama City, FL 32401 90%2,334$52,523$230,500$197 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43207 90%2,081$63,310$180,800$174 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63125 90%1,781$61,624$178,600$155 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76111 90%1,700$60,194$216,400$188 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Knoxville, TN 37914 89%2,175$59,856$218,300$186 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Lexington, KY 40505 89%2,071$58,206$179,200$170 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Wyoming, MI 49509 89%1,865$65,132$202,100$208 cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents
Des Moines, IA 50315 89%1,529$60,590$173,200$187 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Beloit, WI 53511 89%1,715$67,067$173,500$164 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Joliet, IL 60433 89%1,792$66,515$172,300$173 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Vineland, NJ 08360 88%2,468$65,359$221,900$198 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Chattanooga, TN 37411 88%2,147$56,579$232,300$162 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40213 88%2,008$55,897$173,600$169 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40216 88%2,002$56,441$167,100$150 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Cleveland, OH 44144 88%2,092$60,223$149,900$161 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Butte, MT 59701 88%537$60,437$248,200$181 5 min shorter commute
Joliet, IL 60436 88%1,788$62,961$180,800$182 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Dallas, TX 75224 88%1,723$51,919$239,600$207 younger residents
San Antonio, TX 78210 88%1,820$55,028$189,400$174 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Springfield, MA 01119 87%2,502$57,857$245,100$251 smaller
Dayton, OH 45414 87%2,025$54,485$182,300$145 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Des Moines, IA 50317 87%1,532$65,617$177,600$203 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Dallas, TX 75232 87%1,725$61,847$220,100$164 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 6 min longer commute
Fort Worth, TX 76103 87%1,703$60,172$205,000$171 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · younger residents

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.