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 Pelham, NC 27311

Pelham: median income $39,044, home value $128,200, $141/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Century, FL 32535 95%590$38,618$138,200$159 Very close on everything we compare
Clay City, KY 40312 93%263$42,564$144,600$142 larger
Sneedville, TN 37869 92%210$39,331$160,100$168 pricier homes ($32K more)
Scotts Hill, TN 38374 92%495$38,389$116,000$137 smaller
Whiteville, TN 38075 91%546$44,444$114,900$135 larger
Sharpsburg, KY 40374 91%270$43,607$115,100$153 Very close on everything we compare
Humansville, MO 65674 91%781$47,500$137,000$143 Very close on everything we compare
Dodson, LA 71422 91%812$36,111$108,500— smaller
Glenwood, AR 71943 91%806$44,904$121,800$164 Very close on everything we compare
Timpson, TX 75975 91%909$44,297$96,900— cheaper homes ($31K less)
Coward, SC 29530 90%173$44,012$116,800$125 Very close on everything we compare
Hampton, SC 29924 90%266$43,542$165,800$131 pricier homes ($38K more)
Brent, AL 35034 90%503$36,002$158,400$117 pricier homes ($30K more)
Carrollton, AL 35447 90%539$40,000$110,100— older residents
Walnut Grove, MS 39189 90%625$49,083$101,400— cheaper homes ($27K less)
Richland, MO 65556 90%717$38,194$108,400$146 Very close on everything we compare
Dawson, TX 76639 90%1,033$48,514$154,400$125 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Mill Creek, WV 26280 89%157$46,335$134,100$115 smaller
Pamplico, SC 29583 89%173$34,931$114,100$154 7 min shorter commute
Patterson, GA 31557 89%384$47,083$109,300$132 Very close on everything we compare
Stanton, KY 40380 89%255$37,734$135,100$156 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Whitley City, KY 42653 89%277$42,656$109,200$158 6 min longer commute
Campti, LA 71411 89%840$37,500$126,500$159 older residents
Alberta, VA 23821 88%91$46,336$98,500$157 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Ferrum, VA 24088 88%43$41,769$152,700$163 Very close on everything we compare

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.