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 Pennington Gap, VA 24277

Pennington Gap: median income $31,737, home value $86,200, $92/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Homer, LA 71040 96%630$31,678$79,600$101 Very close on everything we compare
Sardis, MS 38666 93%419$36,892$91,200$100 Very close on everything we compare
Bennettsville, SC 29512 92%238$34,734$86,400$90 larger
Mullins, SC 29574 92%275$34,112$87,200$104 larger
Enfield, NC 27823 91%297$34,940$89,800$106 Very close on everything we compare
Oglethorpe, GA 31068 91%314$30,352$69,400— Very close on everything we compare
Haynesville, LA 71038 91%628$25,958$83,200$83 smaller
Newton, MS 39345 90%465$40,105$89,200$90 Very close on everything we compare
Dermott, AR 71638 90%525$31,667$61,900— smaller
Morgan, GA 39866 89%371$31,023$92,000— smaller
Ferriday, LA 71334 89%601$34,804$81,300$105 larger
Frisco City, AL 36445 88%445$39,421$102,600$103 Very close on everything we compare
Jenkins, KY 41537 88%37$35,673$76,200$78 smaller · older residents
Senath, MO 63876 88%399$34,837$95,900— smaller
Mansfield, LA 71052 88%690$38,509$109,400$68 larger
Wilburton, OK 74578 88%701$41,024$100,800$89 Very close on everything we compare
Brundidge, AL 36010 87%384$41,503$110,100$84 Very close on everything we compare
Evergreen, AL 36401 87%428$40,792$105,000$82 Very close on everything we compare
York, AL 36925 87%420$29,342$80,600— smaller · older residents
Wallins Creek, KY 40873 87%22$33,359$88,900$102 smaller
Fordyce, AR 71742 87%567$38,843$98,200$67 Very close on everything we compare
Arcadia, LA 71001 86%633$30,490$97,300$134 smaller
Jonesboro, LA 71251 86%632$40,128$104,100$124 Very close on everything we compare
Heavener, OK 74937 86%663$41,367$104,300$94 Very close on everything we compare
Plymouth, NC 27962 85%355$41,774$114,500$83 pricier homes ($28K more)

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.