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 Emporia, VA 23847

Emporia: median income $51,168, home value $139,300, $154/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Thomaston, GA 30286 94%464$55,087$168,600$147 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Pauls Valley, OK 73075 94%1,109$54,540$140,800$125 Very close on everything we compare
Winslow, AZ 86047 94%1,850$54,441$129,700$167 Very close on everything we compare
Rayville, LA 71269 93%857$49,668$145,900$145 more homeowners
Sinton, TX 78387 93%1,305$53,048$166,300$152 pricier homes ($27K more)
Anniston, AL 36206 92%510$51,116$130,500$113 Very close on everything we compare
Somerset, KY 42501 92%387$48,965$142,200$136 Very close on everything we compare
Eden, NC 27288 91%122$52,594$136,700$136 larger · older residents
Newberry, SC 29108 91%282$53,558$150,600$141 larger
Waynesboro, GA 30830 91%352$53,385$172,800$153 pricier homes ($34K more)
Brownsville, TN 38012 91%657$45,974$161,500$127 older residents
Ripley, TN 38063 91%670$49,403$153,300$118 Very close on everything we compare
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495 91%838$49,798$139,100$132 smaller
Greenville, TX 75401 91%1,077$59,908$168,000$155 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Lamar, MO 64759 90%925$50,000$149,000$168 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Westwego, LA 70094 90%867$53,597$159,700$136 larger
Douglas, AZ 85607 90%1,859$43,351$153,800$162 Very close on everything we compare
Weston, WV 26452 89%227$51,695$128,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
Burlington, NC 27217 89%110$51,950$173,200$182 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Gastonia, NC 28052 89%227$49,643$187,500$174 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Warner Robins, GA 31093 89%444$45,991$157,100$130 larger
Milan, TN 38358 89%626$62,639$163,300$152 Very close on everything we compare
Washington Court House, OH 43160 89%376$61,740$170,200$149 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Uhrichsville, OH 44683 89%327$54,237$123,400$127 smaller · older homes
Bowling Green, MO 63334 89%764$54,638$159,800$151 smaller · more homeowners

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.