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 Conroe, TX 77306

Conroe: median income $76,257, home value $174,100, $135/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Von Ormy, TX 78073 95%213$69,635$158,100$136 smaller
New Haven, MI 48048 91%1,106$70,938$188,700$166 smaller
Splendora, TX 77372 91%5$79,085$230,700$154 pricier homes ($57K more)
Dayton, TX 77535 91%29$84,497$225,200$155 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Alvarado, TX 76009 90%191$79,755$245,400$161 pricier homes ($71K more)
Odessa, TX 79766 90%432$74,407$140,800— cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Conroe, TX 77303 89%12$75,348$240,700$144 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Downsville, LA 71234 88%240$84,740$155,500$117 smaller
Jemison, AL 35085 87%539$70,862$143,500$140 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · older homes
Wilmer, AL 36587 87%416$72,657$161,800$139 smaller · older residents · more single-family homes
Tickfaw, LA 70466 87%287$65,807$166,900$147 smaller · more renters
New Caney, TX 77357 87%7$76,050$246,200$147 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger
Pembroke, GA 31321 86%816$68,472$165,500$181 smaller · older residents
Lake Butler, FL 32054 85%771$65,870$185,100$192 older residents
Dallas, TX 75253 85%186$60,874$165,000$164 more renters
Joshua, TX 76058 85%199$71,328$275,900$161 pricier homes ($102K more)
Willis, TX 77378 85%18$71,143$199,800$157 pricier homes ($26K more) · more single-family homes
Kountze, TX 77625 85%58$70,517$145,300$170 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older residents
Broadway, NC 27505 84%1,007$79,462$191,000$175 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Ellabell, GA 31308 84%825$73,061$176,200$189 smaller · older residents
Shepherd, TX 77371 84%25$83,594$195,000$102 smaller · older residents
Parkton, NC 28371 83%1,001$67,257$157,900$167 smaller
Ferris, TX 75125 83%178$79,545$231,800$167 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · older residents
Winnie, TX 77665 83%63$78,590$169,900$149 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Del Valle, TX 78617 83%139$71,640$281,700$176 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger

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.

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