OfferBackedBuyer Tools
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 Shacklefords, VA 23156

Shacklefords: median income $36,179, home value $196,700, $209/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pittsburg, MO 65724 91%908$41,447$174,100$279 Very close on everything we compare
Round O, SC 29474 88%384$40,781$143,100$237 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older homes
Wheatland, MO 65779 85%911$44,018$179,700$137 Very close on everything we compare
Oakwood, TX 75855 85%1,161$45,962$186,000— larger · 5 min shorter commute
Kelso, TN 37348 84%568$39,542$266,200$202 pricier homes ($70K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Theodosia, MO 65761 84%881$43,000$170,000$189 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older homes
Gibson, LA 70356 84%983$32,756$175,600$166 younger residents
Bolton, MS 39041 83%854$41,137$174,600— larger · younger residents
Fackler, AL 35746 82%549$50,357$166,500$181 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Arkdale, WI 54613 82%823$51,528$172,400$232 larger
Big Clifty, KY 42712 81%517$45,870$147,400$175 cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents
Bingham, ME 04920 80%630$39,860$128,100$138 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Roper, NC 27970 80%112$37,578$132,200$247 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · more renters
Allons, TN 38541 80%480$41,151$220,900$256 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Kirkland, AZ 86332 80%2,022$49,891$223,700$204 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Thorn Hill, TN 37881 79%376$37,443$111,900$160 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Maynard, AR 72444 79%785$32,276$152,800— cheaper homes ($44K less) · younger residents · older homes
Mount Ida, AR 71957 78%963$47,703$179,000$229 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Karnack, TX 75661 78%1,044$41,929$158,500$258 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Reedy, WV 25270 76%274$44,129$200,800— younger residents
Meadow Bridge, WV 25976 76%228$41,169$126,100$148 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · younger residents
Inglis, FL 34449 76%675$43,656$176,400$200 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Mammoth Cave, KY 42259 76%519$33,566$148,100$206 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 8 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Grovespring, MO 65662 76%870$51,339$216,100$212 8 min longer commute
Green Mountain, NC 28740 75%325$48,214$213,000$310 larger · 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.