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 Willis, VA 24380

Willis: median income $57,778, home value $224,400, $264/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Zionville, NC 28698 95%80$54,402$219,400$264 Very close on everything we compare
Green Mountain, NC 28740 93%116$48,214$213,000$310 Very close on everything we compare
Eclectic, AL 36024 93%429$57,595$243,000$277 larger
Wedowee, AL 36278 93%374$58,214$261,000$240 pricier homes ($37K more) · newer homes
Coolville, OH 45723 93%177$57,222$168,900$258 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Remus, MI 49340 93%526$54,417$190,900$209 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Thompsonville, MI 49683 93%600$61,250$187,200$272 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Wild Rose, WI 54984 93%680$64,120$216,200$196 Very close on everything we compare
Albion, ME 04910 92%782$62,361$230,900$185 Very close on everything we compare
Kittrell, NC 27544 92%124$66,304$173,900$212 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Tyner, NC 27980 92%218$66,111$259,300$202 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Moravian Falls, NC 28654 92%67$57,438$228,700$182 Very close on everything we compare
Arley, AL 35541 92%424$57,143$190,300$269 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 5 min longer commute
Prospect, TN 38477 92%386$60,542$223,200$182 Very close on everything we compare
Monroe, TN 38573 92%263$49,583$182,100$222 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Rock Island, TN 38581 92%299$55,985$182,500$216 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Motley, MN 56466 92%973$61,910$237,100$252 6 min shorter commute
Lowgap, NC 27024 91%31$62,813$188,600$191 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Mount Gilead, NC 27306 91%117$57,934$171,800$226 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Cedar Bluff, AL 35959 91%340$52,356$234,500$246 larger
Butler, TN 37640 91%91$55,402$174,000$304 cheaper homes ($50K less)
White Pine, TN 37890 91%165$59,355$234,200$197 larger
Hilham, TN 38568 91%276$61,556$174,400$204 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Cecil, WI 54111 91%687$67,396$248,200$196 smaller
Eucha, OK 74342 91%800$57,321$160,500$269 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller

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.