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 Rich Square, NC 27869

Rich Square: median income $43,301, home value $115,200, $113/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glennie, MI 48737 92%663$38,000$122,500$96 smaller
Lower Salem, OH 45745 90%318$44,250$105,700$85 smaller
Fulton, AR 71838 90%952$48,125$112,300— smaller
Green Castle, MO 63544 88%888$44,167$109,400— smaller · younger residents
Hermitage, MO 65668 88%888$38,449$138,400$145 Very close on everything we compare
Labadieville, LA 70372 88%907$40,659$105,200$119 younger residents
Shelbiana, KY 41562 87%296$40,104$96,700— younger residents
Elizabethtown, IL 62931 87%613$49,605$105,100$124 5 min longer commute
Horseshoe Bend, AR 72512 87%805$46,449$130,100$97 younger residents
Keysville, GA 30816 86%351$44,559$145,400$106 pricier homes ($30K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Alford, FL 32420 86%607$48,446$119,600$145 more homeowners · newer homes
Grand Rivers, KY 42045 86%610$50,549$157,800$90 pricier homes ($43K more)
Rose City, MI 48654 86%667$45,202$140,800$145 pricier homes ($26K more)
Normalville, PA 15469 85%284$56,301$140,100— Very close on everything we compare
Meadow Bridge, WV 25976 85%225$41,169$126,100$148 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Ravenna, KY 40472 85%379$41,328$101,700$123 younger residents
Wayne City, IL 62895 85%636$51,131$117,800— younger residents
Mammoth, AZ 85618 85%1,905$51,953$102,500— more homeowners
Seward, PA 15954 84%300$43,958$81,800$111 cheaper homes ($33K less) · younger residents
Mason, WV 25260 84%320$49,167$99,000$118 more walkable
Viper, KY 41774 84%329$47,083$100,300— younger residents
Monterey, IN 46960 84%599$45,625$151,000$117 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · younger residents
Fairview, MI 48621 84%682$51,304$145,300$134 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Barryton, MI 49305 84%662$51,875$148,100$138 pricier homes ($33K more)
Hillman, MI 49746 84%700$47,432$164,400$125 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger

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.