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 Gretna, VA 24557

Gretna: median income $44,755, home value $140,200, $127/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Winfield, AL 35594 97%520$44,732$156,900$124 Very close on everything we compare
Lafayette, AL 36862 95%444$37,719$134,700$133 Very close on everything we compare
Greensburg, KY 42743 95%341$49,457$136,400$130 Very close on everything we compare
Wayne, WV 25570 94%190$48,947$107,100$119 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Spencer, TN 38585 94%350$48,015$152,700$123 smaller
Evart, MI 49631 94%570$47,174$132,300$148 Very close on everything we compare
Marble Hill, MO 63764 94%586$49,917$138,700$118 smaller
Osceola, MO 64776 94%793$44,880$149,100$126 smaller
Austin, IN 47102 93%373$41,583$129,900$129 younger residents
Ravenswood, WV 26164 92%190$45,104$137,300$142 5 min shorter commute
Opp, AL 36467 91%557$41,708$121,200$89 Very close on everything we compare
Camden, AL 36726 91%568$46,030$130,300$116 smaller
Parsons, TN 38363 91%497$43,704$120,900$115 younger residents
Bamberg, SC 29003 90%272$52,624$108,300$122 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Pacolet, SC 29372 90%197$46,739$104,400$139 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Dresden, TN 38225 90%521$50,545$134,900$119 younger residents
Pomeroy, OH 45769 90%206$50,952$113,400$123 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents
Marshall, AR 72650 90%742$46,295$93,800$110 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Centre, AL 35960 89%404$52,619$181,200$169 pricier homes ($41K more)
Elba, AL 36323 89%543$45,819$118,400$84 Very close on everything we compare
Standish, MI 48658 89%541$53,750$122,000$135 smaller · younger residents
Baldwin, MI 49304 89%589$45,991$116,000$189 Very close on everything we compare
Adams, WI 53910 89%729$49,875$139,900$136 smaller
El Dorado Springs, MO 64744 89%807$47,685$167,900$118 pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents
Stover, MO 65078 89%753$43,974$150,200$156 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.