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 Blanch, NC 27212

Blanch: median income $57,108, home value $190,400, $159/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rice, VA 23966 94%78$57,177$192,700$169 Very close on everything we compare
Exmore, VA 23350 92%202$48,712$170,500$154 Very close on everything we compare
Sandy Creek, NY 13145 91%524$60,625$142,200$142 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Melfa, VA 23410 90%211$54,050$195,100$193 5 min shorter commute
Inchelium, WA 99138 90%2,127$50,833$218,100— pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Strattanville, PA 16258 88%327$55,188$183,800— more homeowners
Pocomoke City, MD 21851 88%233$53,162$206,700$176 larger
Saint Ignace, MI 49781 88%716$64,152$165,400$176 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Meridian, TX 76665 88%1,094$62,857$160,700$248 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Seneca, PA 16346 87%340$59,718$153,700$136 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Parksley, VA 23421 87%220$52,759$188,500$181 larger
Triadelphia, WV 26059 87%259$67,094$191,700$165 more homeowners
Wildwood, GA 30757 87%360$60,947$173,600$149 more homeowners
Hollywood, AL 35752 87%394$58,977$162,300$147 cheaper homes ($28K less) · newer homes
South Charleston, OH 45368 87%334$60,850$168,600$153 larger · more homeowners
Maysville, MO 64469 87%852$62,059$154,000$132 cheaper homes ($36K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Dexter, ME 04930 86%788$54,137$168,600$136 larger
Madison, ME 04950 86%758$61,747$187,600$197 larger · older homes
Newport, ME 04953 86%780$60,365$234,800$182 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · more homeowners
Mc Connellsburg, PA 17233 86%250$61,296$195,500$166 larger · more homeowners
Altavista, VA 24517 86%45$53,201$145,200$151 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Jesup, GA 31546 86%370$66,912$207,900$135 larger
Portage, OH 43451 86%408$62,167$207,400$108 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Dubach, LA 71235 86%805$58,293$182,400$110 larger · more homeowners
San Saba, TX 76877 86%1,173$53,500$165,400$164 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · younger residents

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.