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.

Reset

Towns most like Pfafftown, NC 27040

Pfafftown: median income $92,601, home value $278,000, $171/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mountain Top, PA 18707 93%419$109,567$301,200$174 Very close on everything we compare
Georgetown, IN 47122 93%341$107,500$284,300$164 Very close on everything we compare
Richland, MI 49083 93%507$105,496$348,100$170 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller
Macedonia, OH 44056 92%361$101,285$308,500$195 pricier homes ($31K more)
New Palestine, IN 46163 92%388$113,106$347,800$176 pricier homes ($70K more)
Schoolcraft, MI 49087 92%500$106,250$305,900$181 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Florissant, MO 63034 92%573$103,905$239,300$135 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Waynesville, OH 45068 91%308$96,147$335,600$204 pricier homes ($58K more)
Roanoke, IN 46783 91%426$101,705$303,700$185 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Hampden, ME 04444 90%845$106,554$293,000$200 Very close on everything we compare
Palmyra, VA 22963 90%164$104,259$327,900$203 pricier homes ($50K more) · 5 min longer commute
Gurley, AL 35748 90%353$103,563$356,300$198 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller
Alexandria, KY 41001 90%292$102,447$283,600$185 larger
Canton, OH 44721 90%330$98,210$239,600$179 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Floyds Knobs, IN 47119 90%339$119,410$359,500$167 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($82K more)
Evansville, IN 47725 90%416$104,088$277,600$166 larger · newer homes
Freeland, MI 48623 90%546$101,250$257,700$165 5 min shorter commute
Laingsburg, MI 48848 90%509$94,519$261,400$177 smaller
Columbia, IL 62236 90%562$108,981$306,600$156 pricier homes ($29K more)
Bella Vista, AR 72714 90%770$103,125$306,600$217 pricier homes ($29K more)
Holden, ME 04429 89%854$97,244$313,600$191 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Cataula, GA 31804 89%356$103,095$323,600$164 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Fortson, GA 31808 89%359$109,294$291,700$164 5 min shorter commute
Simpsonville, KY 40067 89%309$97,684$361,100$200 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller
Lowell, MI 49331 89%539$91,800$315,300$224 pricier homes ($37K more)

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.