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 Alton, VA 24520

Alton: median income $42,841, home value $120,500, $289/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Karnack, TX 75661 93%905$41,929$158,500$258 pricier homes ($38K more)
Wayne City, IL 62895 90%538$51,131$117,800— younger residents
Bennington, OK 74723 89%974$42,083$120,500$394 5 min longer commute
Green Castle, MO 63544 88%791$44,167$109,400— smaller
Bolton, MS 39041 87%712$41,137$174,600— pricier homes ($54K more) · 5 min longer commute
Deport, TX 75435 87%947$50,000$135,800$257 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Purlear, NC 28665 86%133$45,685$167,400$310 pricier homes ($47K more) · younger residents
Waterloo, SC 29384 86%232$51,384$124,700$279 larger
Collinwood, TN 38450 86%497$42,887$107,700$200 younger residents
Shelbiana, KY 41562 86%198$40,104$96,700— Very close on everything we compare
Waldo, FL 32694 85%504$43,537$124,200$177 Very close on everything we compare
Blair, SC 29015 84%195$43,977$106,600$276 smaller · younger residents
Mount Ida, AR 71957 84%829$47,703$179,000$229 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Gore, OK 74435 84%900$53,580$146,500$250 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · younger residents
Oakwood, TX 75855 84%1,021$45,962$186,000— pricier homes ($66K more) · 5 min longer commute
Cherryfield, ME 04622 83%802$43,854$165,900$251 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Jackson, NC 27845 83%90$48,707$87,000— cheaper homes ($34K less) · younger residents · older homes
Hays, NC 28635 83%118$44,901$145,900$195 pricier homes ($25K more)
Ider, AL 35981 83%393$45,556$152,200— pricier homes ($32K more) · younger residents
Mentone, AL 35984 83%393$44,135$138,000$286 more single-family homes
Weir, MS 39772 83%625$44,318$91,700— cheaper homes ($29K less) · more homeowners
Viper, KY 41774 83%231$47,083$100,300— younger residents
Oden, AR 71961 83%842$37,054$124,100$253 smaller · younger residents
Mc Neal, AZ 85617 83%1,791$43,967$123,000$151 smaller
Sangerville, ME 04479 82%777$50,313$124,000$235 smaller · 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.