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 Damascus, VA 24236

Damascus: median income $28,983, home value $139,300, $221/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Maynard, AR 72444 89%505$32,276$152,800— smaller
Shaw, MS 38773 84%550$30,661$110,400— cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Karnack, TX 75661 83%758$41,929$158,500$258 Very close on everything we compare
Abbeville, AL 36310 81%403$34,744$124,900$146 larger · younger residents
Hampton, TN 37658 81%35$37,995$110,800$176 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Yanceyville, NC 27379 80%136$38,472$169,900$191 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents
Gainesboro, TN 38562 80%215$39,398$148,100$197 larger · younger residents
Bolton, MS 39041 80%574$41,137$174,600— pricier homes ($35K more)
Bulger, PA 15019 79%271$32,926$157,800$200 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Simsboro, LA 71275 79%687$36,225$110,300$165 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Lafayette, AL 36862 78%330$37,719$134,700$133 larger · younger residents
Collinwood, TN 38450 78%348$42,887$107,700$200 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Hermitage, MO 65668 78%639$38,449$138,400$145 smaller
Gibson, LA 70356 78%717$32,756$175,600$166 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Roper, NC 27970 77%294$37,578$132,200$247 9 min longer commute
Round O, SC 29474 77%265$40,781$143,100$237 smaller · 8 min longer commute
Waldo, FL 32694 77%474$43,537$124,200$177 Very close on everything we compare
Newellton, LA 71357 77%626$28,750$81,600— cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Broxton, GA 31519 76%351$36,834$138,400— younger residents
Gainesville, MO 65655 75%590$37,337$176,000$145 pricier homes ($37K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Meadow Bridge, WV 25976 74%100$41,169$126,100$148 5 min longer commute
Brooksville, MS 39739 74%451$24,831$85,000— cheaper homes ($54K less) · more renters
Bitely, MI 49309 74%535$42,566$151,600$214 smaller · more homeowners
Lewisville, AR 71845 74%705$33,672$90,200— cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Oden, AR 71961 74%690$37,054$124,100$253 smaller · younger residents · 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.