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 Saxe, VA 23967

Saxe: median income $73,264, home value $117,500, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Apple Springs, TX 75926 94%1,013$65,833$130,400— Very close on everything we compare
Fruithurst, AL 36262 92%440$68,611$155,600— pricier homes ($38K more)
Falkner, MS 38629 92%595$69,135$122,700— Very close on everything we compare
Thaxton, MS 38871 91%617$63,906$97,800$187 larger
Leavenworth, IN 47137 91%434$65,505$133,400$141 Very close on everything we compare
Stonefort, IL 62987 91%551$83,393$112,600$102 Very close on everything we compare
Middletown, MO 63359 91%710$75,227$160,200— pricier homes ($43K more)
Crandall, GA 30711 90%369$70,462$129,900$183 larger
Stringer, MS 39481 90%699$61,458$166,300— pricier homes ($49K more)
Mantee, MS 39751 90%630$74,226$95,000— Very close on everything we compare
Frost, TX 76641 90%1,085$81,094$166,300$85 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Brushton, NY 12916 89%588$69,833$94,700$103 older homes
Hosford, FL 32334 89%574$60,781$111,600$202 Very close on everything we compare
Smithville, AR 72466 89%704$79,808$165,100$43 pricier homes ($48K more)
Agra, OK 74824 89%1,015$64,063$168,500$155 pricier homes ($51K more)
Williamstown, NY 13493 88%472$63,125$121,500$176 larger
Stokes, NC 27884 88%112$64,306$114,700$91 younger residents
Bloomington Springs, TN 38545 88%393$59,512$118,100$150 older residents
Kirby, AR 71950 88%868$61,786$115,700$817 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, AR 72157 88%784$62,931$140,300— older residents
Gary, TX 75643 88%957$59,342$142,000$166 larger
Chireno, TX 75937 88%975$80,441$89,500— cheaper homes ($28K less)
Pinewood, SC 29125 87%241$62,778$117,900$166 larger
Braxton, MS 39044 87%729$74,417$163,500$131 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Mathiston, MS 39752 87%636$78,750$127,200— larger · 7 min shorter commute

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.