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 Elon, NC 27244

Elon: median income $75,323, home value $278,000, $174/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Graniteville, SC 29829 84%219$84,228$246,900$154 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents
Las Cruces, NM 88012 82%1,569$69,052$249,500$189 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · older residents
Dalton, OH 44618 81%344$74,403$248,800$212 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older residents
Saint Joseph, MN 56374 81%1,011$80,156$292,000$174 smaller · older residents
Howe, TX 75459 81%989$71,228$258,300$163 smaller · older residents
Hyrum, UT 84319 81%1,770$89,189$425,200$195 pricier homes ($147K more) · older residents
Fountain, CO 80817 80%1,390$86,543$400,100$198 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger · older residents
Idaho Falls, ID 83401 80%1,781$78,497$358,700$171 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · older residents
Snowflake, AZ 85937 80%1,721$69,702$269,900$208 smaller · older residents
Prince George, VA 23875 79%146$74,543$271,700$203 older residents
Valdosta, GA 31605 79%416$79,156$226,000$162 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46818 79%465$81,066$235,100$179 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Cortland, IL 60112 79%635$72,831$229,900$183 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · older residents
Wolfforth, TX 79382 79%1,286$84,457$257,100$159 smaller · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Roosevelt, UT 84066 79%1,673$79,494$286,800$182 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Kutztown, PA 19530 78%366$71,554$292,500$184 more renters · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Macclenny, FL 32063 78%430$75,683$260,800$191 older residents
Moundville, AL 35474 78%510$87,933$206,000$145 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · older residents
Whitehouse, TX 75791 78%937$92,107$267,000$173 older residents
Canyon, TX 79015 78%1,260$83,445$280,400$177 older residents · more renters
Thatcher, AZ 85552 78%1,730$88,454$290,900$194 smaller · older residents
Yorktown, VA 23690 77%182$80,644$361,900$220 pricier homes ($84K more) · smaller · older residents
Boiling Springs, SC 29316 77%157$74,735$244,900$151 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · older residents
Hahira, GA 31632 77%417$83,946$265,600$172 older residents
Goshen, IN 46528 77%511$81,529$247,600$147 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older 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.