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 Norton, VA 24273

Norton: median income $41,978, home value $109,300, $89/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mc Rae Helena, GA 31055 95%337$45,885$143,100$94 pricier homes ($34K more)
Vernon, AL 35592 93%378$45,526$119,900$102 Very close on everything we compare
Brundidge, AL 36010 92%405$41,503$110,100$84 Very close on everything we compare
Greenville, AL 36037 91%421$45,677$103,300$96 larger
Monroeville, AL 36460 91%461$41,008$126,500$90 larger
Ahoskie, NC 27910 90%315$43,144$118,200$117 larger
Alma, GA 31510 90%373$45,958$108,000$106 larger
Pelham, GA 31779 90%411$47,530$112,000$91 larger
Newton, MS 39345 90%490$40,105$89,200$90 Very close on everything we compare
Charleston, MO 63834 90%370$41,348$114,000$67 Very close on everything we compare
Mansfield, LA 71052 90%716$38,509$109,400$68 larger
Milan, NM 87021 90%1,413$40,129$128,100— smaller
Hamlet, NC 28345 89%216$40,957$97,600$114 larger · younger residents
Bishopville, SC 29010 89%229$43,500$103,400$78 larger
Lake City, SC 29560 89%267$46,601$125,900$112 larger
Daleville, AL 36322 89%429$47,276$124,700$110 Very close on everything we compare
Meridian, MS 39301 89%466$41,766$119,400— larger
Prestonsburg, KY 41653 89%51$40,542$127,800$112 larger
Anna, IL 62906 89%365$41,993$145,400$86 pricier homes ($36K more)
Williamston, NC 27892 88%317$48,223$113,900$105 larger
Plymouth, NC 27962 88%336$41,774$114,500$83 Very close on everything we compare
Windsor, NC 27983 88%322$44,441$106,400$115 Very close on everything we compare
Denmark, SC 29042 88%264$41,047$88,200$86 younger residents
Marion, SC 29571 88%265$37,395$108,400$129 larger
Americus, GA 31719 88%349$42,905$81,600$102 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 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.