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 Forest, VA 24551

Forest: median income $91,067, home value $362,500, $187/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clemmons, NC 27012 96%109$96,250$340,900$179 Very close on everything we compare
Greer, SC 29650 96%237$94,522$342,500$192 Very close on everything we compare
Twinsburg, OH 44087 96%299$99,270$320,400$199 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Fletcher, NC 28732 95%221$81,852$376,700$233 Very close on everything we compare
Melbourne, FL 32904 94%646$90,673$366,300$208 Very close on everything we compare
Pelham, AL 35124 94%506$99,726$307,600$182 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Carthage, NC 28327 93%141$87,434$322,000$194 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Daphne, AL 36526 93%677$88,750$322,100$177 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Louisville, KY 40299 93%346$89,440$290,200$176 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Blacklick, OH 43004 93%266$101,175$335,400$195 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Maineville, OH 45039 93%302$108,794$327,200$196 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Newburgh, IN 47630 93%446$94,162$272,000$159 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Caledonia, MI 49316 93%502$103,238$364,200$218 Very close on everything we compare
Fenton, MO 63026 93%615$97,553$294,400$189 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Raymore, MO 64083 93%831$101,667$337,400$189 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Mandeville, LA 70471 93%781$96,501$394,300$181 pricier homes ($32K more)
Tucson, AZ 85742 93%1,825$98,844$368,300$228 Very close on everything we compare
Gansevoort, NY 12831 92%499$100,024$343,100$264 smaller
Harrisburg, PA 17112 92%247$103,876$313,000$179 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Reading, PA 19608 92%270$110,173$332,400$178 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Mooresville, NC 28115 92%149$87,787$360,100$192 larger
Alachua, FL 32615 92%551$85,701$297,200$172 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Newberry, FL 32669 92%563$99,548$343,300$198 smaller
Lakeland, FL 33813 92%666$99,497$366,300$202 Very close on everything we compare
Knoxville, TN 37931 92%284$92,150$359,600$208 Very close on everything we compare

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.