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.

Reset

Towns most like Drakes Branch, VA 23937

Drakes Branch: median income $42,818, home value $85,000, $177/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rembert, SC 29128 93%226$43,571$100,200$151 larger
Gueydan, LA 70542 93%936$41,971$93,500— larger
Haworth, OK 74740 93%930$41,141$99,700— Very close on everything we compare
Clio, AL 36017 92%542$41,167$97,000— larger
Ravenden, AR 72459 92%706$39,167$64,000$163 Very close on everything we compare
Neeses, SC 29107 91%278$47,399$90,100$206 Very close on everything we compare
Salley, SC 29137 91%280$41,116$107,200$134 Very close on everything we compare
Bradford, AR 72020 91%730$49,231$95,300— larger
Norway, SC 29113 90%282$48,857$84,200— Very close on everything we compare
Midville, GA 30441 90%351$41,220$87,700$268 Very close on everything we compare
Attapulgus, GA 39815 90%548$45,800$59,800— cheaper homes ($25K less)
San Augustine, TX 75972 90%964$44,196$96,300— larger
Varney, WV 25696 89%202$48,077$109,400— smaller
Ruffin, SC 29475 89%302$39,769$95,000$225 more homeowners
Benoit, MS 38725 89%739$47,115$80,700— smaller
Richwoods, MO 63071 89%676$44,853$122,900$188 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Bowman, SC 29018 88%277$49,167$108,000$162 larger · younger residents
Holly Hill, SC 29059 88%272$38,698$85,000$181 larger
Mitchell, GA 30820 88%349$51,146$82,800— smaller · older residents
Lamont, FL 32336 88%546$45,481$109,200$162 older residents
Gates, TN 38037 88%608$51,976$88,700$190 Very close on everything we compare
Cherry Valley, AR 72324 88%688$36,324$104,900— more renters
Palestine, AR 72372 88%703$43,611$90,300— 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Hollister, NC 27844 87%60$39,076$105,200— larger
Ponce De Leon, FL 32455 87%606$50,952$109,800$205 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.