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 Gaston, NC 27832

Gaston: median income $52,194, home value $113,600, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newton, GA 39870 96%525$50,938$109,600— smaller
Marmaduke, AR 72443 96%709$51,230$106,900$125 Very close on everything we compare
Courtland, AL 35618 95%558$50,750$104,000$110 Very close on everything we compare
Patrick Springs, VA 24133 93%139$61,964$117,400$142 Very close on everything we compare
Alapaha, GA 31622 92%476$51,522$104,500— smaller · younger residents
Big Sandy, TN 38221 92%580$52,714$139,100$174 pricier homes ($26K more)
Whigham, GA 39897 92%546$54,639$141,500$152 pricier homes ($28K more)
Mead, OK 73449 92%1,078$52,338$143,700$150 pricier homes ($30K more)
Quapaw, OK 74363 92%946$55,524$113,700$103 Very close on everything we compare
Gore, OK 74435 92%977$53,580$146,500$250 pricier homes ($33K more)
Ashland, ME 04732 91%846$49,479$127,700$112 smaller · older homes
Clintwood, VA 24228 91%269$49,116$113,000$99 larger
Colt, AR 72326 91%748$48,728$99,200— Very close on everything we compare
Calico Rock, AR 72519 91%809$48,438$125,900$100 Very close on everything we compare
Cusseta, GA 31805 90%499$56,544$103,300$100 smaller
Vernon, AL 35592 90%620$45,526$119,900$102 larger
Cottonwood, AL 36320 90%579$50,000$152,700$121 pricier homes ($39K more)
Repton, AL 36475 90%648$45,039$116,500$190 Very close on everything we compare
Linden, AL 36748 90%647$42,826$93,700$64 Very close on everything we compare
Hagerhill, KY 41222 90%300$40,859$105,100$81 Very close on everything we compare
Wayne City, IL 62895 90%613$51,131$117,800— Very close on everything we compare
Gladstone, VA 24553 89%98$50,385$140,500$226 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Bamberg, SC 29003 89%293$52,624$108,300$122 larger
Cottondale, FL 32431 89%594$55,293$136,200$117 larger · younger residents
Ragland, AL 35131 89%518$43,738$96,800$108 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.