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 Bracey, VA 23919

Bracey: median income $66,750, home value $300,000, $203/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Renfrew, PA 16053 92%309$76,054$297,500$218 5 min shorter commute
Arapahoe, NC 28510 92%130$58,839$264,100$240 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Bokeelia, FL 33922 92%725$71,164$355,800$269 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Shelby, AL 35143 92%536$72,500$220,000$214 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Inyokern, CA 93527 92%2,204$62,596$319,000$157 older homes
Panacea, FL 32346 90%580$61,700$267,200$257 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older homes
Christmas, FL 32709 90%580$73,224$299,300$243 younger residents
Oak Hill, FL 32759 88%556$61,671$289,300$229 younger residents
Walker, MN 56484 88%1,113$67,019$311,200$272 more single-family homes
Hagerman, ID 83332 88%1,986$64,792$226,200$250 cheaper homes ($74K less) · older homes
Stockton Springs, ME 04981 87%732$77,560$239,000$223 cheaper homes ($61K less) · younger residents
Catawba, SC 29704 87%198$74,303$243,800$240 cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents
Eureka Springs, AR 72631 87%869$56,678$259,300$169 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Buchanan Dam, TX 78609 87%1,233$64,418$319,700$189 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson Springs, NC 27281 86%128$74,547$292,400$193 larger · younger residents
Grandy, NC 27939 86%126$62,463$306,100$247 more single-family homes
Melrose, FL 32666 86%524$68,765$218,000$222 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Cropwell, AL 35054 86%509$77,929$347,700$211 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · younger residents
Wedowee, AL 36278 86%474$58,214$261,000$240 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Rocky Mount, MO 65072 86%809$78,750$335,700$286 pricier homes ($36K more) · more single-family homes
Albion, ME 04910 85%712$62,361$230,900$185 cheaper homes ($69K less) · 7 min longer commute
Porter Corners, NY 12859 85%508$71,250$210,200$275 cheaper homes ($90K less) · younger residents
Belews Creek, NC 27009 85%113$76,469$280,400$173 more homeowners
Tyner, NC 27980 85%84$66,111$259,300$202 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents
Grand Island, FL 32735 85%572$68,441$273,300$166 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 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.