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 Norlina, NC 27563

Norlina: median income $36,287, home value $95,900, $159/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Enigma, GA 31749 89%460$38,487$95,100— smaller
Pineville, KY 40977 89%310$37,917$85,600$140 larger
Eutaw, AL 35462 88%606$31,528$94,900$175 more single-family homes
Pamplico, SC 29583 87%189$34,931$114,100$154 more single-family homes
Campti, LA 71411 87%908$37,500$126,500$159 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Williston, SC 29853 86%281$44,983$107,100$172 Very close on everything we compare
Buena Vista, GA 31803 86%463$45,189$104,900$138 Very close on everything we compare
Soperton, GA 30457 85%378$43,664$83,800$110 Very close on everything we compare
Celina, TN 38551 85%406$39,821$116,700$244 Very close on everything we compare
Rockholds, KY 40759 85%329$34,909$97,300$137 smaller · more single-family homes
Green Sea, SC 29545 84%165$42,083$126,700$192 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · younger residents
Pageland, SC 29728 84%171$45,250$130,900$159 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Ashburn, GA 31714 84%454$33,287$94,200$146 younger residents
Cordova, AL 35550 84%541$42,216$91,900$119 Very close on everything we compare
Clio, AL 36017 84%537$41,167$97,000— smaller
Neeses, SC 29107 83%263$47,399$90,100$206 smaller
Richland, GA 31825 83%478$28,698$73,100— smaller
Oil City, LA 71061 83%933$35,536$113,200$142 smaller · younger residents
Shiprock, NM 87420 83%1,688$36,335$103,900— larger · younger residents
Salt Rock, WV 25559 82%257$34,727$131,300$181 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Holly Hill, SC 29059 82%251$38,698$85,000$181 more homeowners
Coward, SC 29530 82%193$44,012$116,800$125 smaller · younger residents
Twin City, GA 30471 82%351$42,236$75,800$98 Very close on everything we compare
Butler, GA 31006 82%437$42,750$85,800$104 more single-family homes
Oglethorpe, GA 31068 82%443$30,352$69,400— cheaper homes ($27K less)

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.