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 Buffalo Junction, VA 24529

Buffalo Junction: median income $27,243, home value $175,700, $245/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Maynard, AR 72444 83%681$32,276$152,800— more homeowners
Jasper, AR 72641 80%813$37,696$179,800$351 Very close on everything we compare
Shaw, MS 38773 79%718$30,661$110,400— cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Yanceyville, NC 27379 75%44$38,472$169,900$191 larger
Belvidere, TN 37306 74%435$39,375$223,400$248 pricier homes ($48K more) · more homeowners
Karnack, TX 75661 74%927$41,929$158,500$258 larger
Wolf Creek, OR 97497 74%2,392$36,210$321,800$285 pricier homes ($146K more)
Bulger, PA 15019 73%278$32,926$157,800$200 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners · older homes
Hot Springs, MT 59845 73%1,976$31,970$191,100$179 11 min shorter commute · older homes
Gibson, LA 70356 73%861$32,756$175,600$166 more homeowners
Cherryfield, ME 04622 72%785$43,854$165,900$251 Very close on everything we compare
White Oak, NC 28399 72%128$33,512$155,700$163 more apartments and townhomes
Oden, AR 71961 72%865$37,054$124,100$253 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Broxton, GA 31519 71%422$36,834$138,400— cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · younger residents
Bolton, MS 39041 71%734$41,137$174,600— larger
Brooksville, MS 39739 71%611$24,831$85,000— cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Wisner, LA 71378 71%811$36,950$110,700— cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Colorado City, CO 81019 70%1,440$38,056$223,400$241 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents
Orbisonia, PA 17243 69%253$42,381$155,400$152 Very close on everything we compare
Simsboro, LA 71275 69%854$36,225$110,300$165 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · younger residents
Newellton, LA 71357 69%786$28,750$81,600— cheaper homes ($94K less) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Tuskahoma, OK 74574 69%942$39,896$134,500$198 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Round O, SC 29474 68%277$40,781$143,100$237 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 8 min longer commute
Red Boiling Springs, TN 37150 68%403$33,047$181,300$196 larger · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Altamont, TN 37301 68%408$35,417$133,100$248 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents · more homeowners

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.