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 Rocky Mount, NC 27803

Rocky Mount: median income $60,124, home value $174,500, $129/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dayton, OH 45414 89%440$54,485$182,300$145 older homes
Belleville, IL 62226 88%693$70,797$167,000$120 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64138 88%935$58,638$188,400$142 younger residents · older homes
Beckley, WV 25801 87%227$56,836$158,900$112 larger
Ocala, FL 34470 87%526$52,083$189,600$161 younger residents
Birmingham, AL 35214 87%539$56,383$164,500$94 Very close on everything we compare
Flint, MI 48532 87%584$61,998$169,200$109 younger residents · older homes
Dexter, MO 63841 87%677$58,607$163,400$118 smaller · less walkable
Hot Springs National Park, AR 71901 87%858$53,514$190,500$152 less walkable
Somerset, PA 15501 86%291$59,245$171,100$121 less walkable · older homes
South Hill, VA 23970 86%57$65,170$205,000$142 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · less walkable
Cullman, AL 35055 86%523$58,405$218,900$156 pricier homes ($44K more) · younger residents · less walkable
South Point, OH 45680 86%312$54,523$164,800$129 smaller · less walkable
Shawano, WI 54166 86%833$62,791$190,800$179 less walkable
Independence, MO 64055 86%932$62,439$176,700$142 larger · younger residents · older homes
Rochester, NY 14606 85%501$55,807$158,400$160 older homes
South Charleston, WV 25309 85%272$57,937$158,000$130 smaller · less walkable
Parkersburg, WV 26104 85%306$54,331$170,800$138 less walkable
Greenville, SC 29617 85%270$55,403$234,500$182 pricier homes ($60K more) · younger residents
Danville, KY 40422 85%402$59,615$220,400$154 pricier homes ($46K more) · younger residents
Lexington, KY 40505 85%394$58,206$179,200$170 younger residents · older homes
Youngstown, OH 44515 85%391$53,252$151,400$148 less walkable
New Philadelphia, OH 44663 85%371$61,551$180,100$172 older homes
Terre Haute, IN 47802 85%576$57,395$170,200$136 larger · younger residents
Tomah, WI 54660 85%869$61,186$197,200$152 5 min shorter commute · less walkable

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.