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 South Hill, VA 23970

South Hill: median income $65,170, home value $205,000, $142/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wallace, NC 28466 94%136$65,558$193,300$161 Very close on everything we compare
Jesup, GA 31546 93%414$66,912$207,900$135 Very close on everything we compare
Cameron, MO 64429 93%897$68,708$206,600$164 Very close on everything we compare
Cuero, TX 77954 93%1,225$66,195$187,200$144 Very close on everything we compare
Thomson, GA 30824 92%332$60,234$174,100$152 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
South Point, OH 45680 92%269$54,523$164,800$129 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Litchfield, MN 55355 92%1,031$63,295$224,400$159 Very close on everything we compare
Fairfield, TX 75840 92%1,082$58,224$206,200$144 younger residents
Willcox, AZ 85643 92%1,821$57,903$173,900$133 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Rainbow City, AL 35906 91%487$56,420$220,900$155 Very close on everything we compare
Lorain, OH 44053 91%392$67,484$206,300$159 larger
Mauston, WI 53948 91%795$62,829$182,400$142 more homeowners
Sidney, MT 59270 91%1,522$72,630$267,600$133 pricier homes ($63K more) · younger residents
Silvis, IL 61282 91%735$64,398$160,100$137 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older homes
Catoosa, OK 74015 91%976$74,444$231,400$168 pricier homes ($26K more)
Mifflinburg, PA 17844 90%297$68,314$235,000$149 pricier homes ($30K more) · younger residents
Butner, NC 27509 90%52$73,136$215,200$191 Very close on everything we compare
Wilkesboro, NC 28697 90%172$52,988$218,500$171 larger
Humboldt, TN 38343 90%602$58,260$168,200$147 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Rockport, IN 47635 90%497$66,286$166,700$110 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Tomah, WI 54660 90%819$61,186$197,200$152 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Berlin, WI 54923 90%757$66,223$189,300$161 older homes
Cuba, MO 65453 90%733$62,790$176,800$168 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Milton, PA 17847 89%306$58,775$197,100$137 older homes
Bainbridge, GA 39819 89%544$55,426$181,600$108 Very close on everything we compare

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.