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 Ararat, NC 27007

Ararat: median income $77,163, home value $216,200, $202/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stuyvesant, NY 12173 95%550$76,607$225,600$228 Very close on everything we compare
Calumet, OK 73014 93%982$81,875$193,100$173 smaller
Savoy, TX 75479 93%911$74,803$209,500$207 older residents
Pattersonville, NY 12137 92%563$83,879$271,500$231 pricier homes ($55K more)
Minford, OH 45653 92%212$82,125$176,100— cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Thorndike, ME 04986 91%820$71,833$184,500$163 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Prospect, VA 23960 91%130$63,533$219,100$210 Very close on everything we compare
Archie, MO 64725 91%769$84,722$232,100$180 Very close on everything we compare
Henley, MO 65040 91%658$89,167$225,800$190 Very close on everything we compare
Locke, NY 13092 90%487$78,056$192,700$148 5 min shorter commute
Theresa, NY 13691 90%596$79,943$173,400$147 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Eden, MD 21822 90%301$84,479$277,700$189 pricier homes ($62K more)
Bowersville, GA 30516 90%195$77,818$189,600$203 cheaper homes ($27K less)
New Hope, AL 35760 90%350$71,622$172,600$186 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Upton, KY 42784 90%303$68,699$178,100$153 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Leesburg, OH 45135 90%260$79,629$210,000$165 larger
Otterbein, IN 47970 90%454$74,457$185,300$173 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more single-family homes
Ochelata, OK 74051 90%854$67,841$178,300$152 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Little River Academy, TX 76554 90%1,032$75,500$177,300$151 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Chilton, TX 76632 90%1,008$76,193$156,700— cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Riner, VA 24149 89%45$69,753$204,600$226 larger
Chancellor, AL 36316 89%468$77,016$207,800$148 Very close on everything we compare
Paris, MI 49338 89%573$69,375$161,900$148 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Pellston, MI 49769 89%672$67,558$160,000$230 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Chili, WI 54420 89%766$79,899$201,300$202 smaller · 6 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.