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 Farmville, VA 23901

Farmville: median income $55,886, home value $229,400, $175/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Farmington, ME 04938 92%666$55,704$172,500$211 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Bolivar, MO 65613 92%822$59,172$212,900$168 newer homes
Shelby, NC 28152 90%224$57,806$205,200$158 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Slippery Rock, PA 16057 89%273$58,288$242,900$181 younger residents
Waynesboro, GA 30830 89%354$53,385$172,800$153 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Old Town, ME 04468 88%731$56,358$203,700$192 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Cobleskill, NY 12043 88%426$64,583$186,000$150 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Carrollton, GA 30117 88%455$61,842$267,700$173 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Rome, GA 30161 88%432$61,667$205,900$155 larger · older residents
Jefferson City, TN 37760 88%293$66,190$238,200$184 Very close on everything we compare
Paris, KY 40361 88%325$63,333$233,000$146 older residents
Weatherford, TX 76086 88%1,138$60,578$258,100$199 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Salisbury, NC 28144 87%162$52,568$226,700$159 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Fayetteville, NC 28311 87%153$62,170$216,900$151 larger · newer homes
Cornelia, GA 30531 87%346$53,762$227,300$169 older residents · newer homes
Fort Pierce, FL 34947 87%690$51,811$279,000$210 pricier homes ($50K more)
Phenix City, AL 36867 87%501$48,026$207,600$148 larger
Tupelo, MS 38804 87%612$64,420$219,700$155 6 min shorter commute
Gulfport, MS 39507 87%773$54,657$217,800$145 6 min shorter commute
Gretna, LA 70056 87%842$59,027$230,500$137 larger
Palestine, TX 75801 87%1,051$56,787$173,200$144 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Bay City, TX 77414 87%1,167$59,128$172,000$141 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Martinsburg, WV 25401 86%151$51,909$229,200$173 more walkable
Fayetteville, NC 28304 86%160$58,563$172,000$146 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Havelock, NC 28532 86%187$60,605$218,000$172 newer homes

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.