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 Climax, NC 27233

Climax: median income $83,819, home value $269,200, $188/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spout Spring, VA 24593 95%108$79,018$243,900$195 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Wartrace, TN 37183 94%373$81,126$245,300$180 Very close on everything we compare
Stoutsville, OH 43154 94%306$91,250$250,700$228 Very close on everything we compare
York Haven, PA 17370 93%330$89,895$250,400$186 larger
Juliette, GA 31046 93%305$95,644$274,000$184 Very close on everything we compare
Rives Junction, MI 49277 93%513$91,912$217,500$185 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Laporte, MN 56461 93%1,099$78,188$273,700$193 Very close on everything we compare
Pillager, MN 56473 93%1,051$85,950$295,300$203 pricier homes ($26K more)
Sperry, OK 74073 93%908$87,045$271,100$171 larger
Lake Cormorant, MS 38641 92%593$96,208$237,400$172 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 5 min longer commute
Philpot, KY 42366 92%419$87,672$229,700$148 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Solsberry, IN 47459 92%444$76,061$244,100$158 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older residents
Black Hawk, SD 57718 92%1,367$84,162$300,100$195 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Highlandville, MO 65669 92%757$86,932$243,800$162 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 5 min longer commute
Paulina, LA 70763 92%758$89,468$264,000$145 Very close on everything we compare
Pomaria, SC 29126 91%150$73,702$195,200$211 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Mc Connells, SC 29726 91%114$88,750$308,300$228 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Rocky Face, GA 30740 91%312$79,671$242,600$168 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Vincent, OH 45784 91%259$82,713$229,800$183 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Eagle, MI 48822 91%547$91,299$300,900$176 pricier homes ($32K more)
Barnum, MN 55707 91%991$82,167$246,400$189 Very close on everything we compare
Cherry Valley, IL 61016 91%659$84,883$231,200$175 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Carmel, ME 04419 90%831$82,188$256,800$231 Very close on everything we compare
Williamstown, VT 05679 90%680$94,082$238,900$149 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Irasburg, VT 05845 90%726$82,262$233,200$197 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 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.