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 Stokes, NC 27884

Stokes: median income $64,306, home value $114,700, $91/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Falkner, MS 38629 91%661$69,135$122,700— 6 min longer commute
Pleasant Plains, AR 72568 91%806$67,143$103,100$79 Very close on everything we compare
Ballard, WV 24918 90%230$63,594$140,800— pricier homes ($26K more)
Saxe, VA 23967 88%112$73,264$117,500— older residents
Lovely, KY 41231 88%319$60,875$136,400— 6 min longer commute
Apple Springs, TX 75926 88%1,065$65,833$130,400— older residents
Hagerman, NM 88232 87%1,548$65,000$134,700— older residents
West Edmeston, NY 13485 86%500$62,337$151,600$82 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents · older homes
Freer, TX 78357 86%1,361$68,000$137,500$74 Very close on everything we compare
Castle Creek, NY 13744 85%458$61,086$120,000— smaller · older residents
Toone, TN 38381 84%656$51,313$110,000$134 older residents
Randolph, MS 38864 84%682$54,130$161,500$79 pricier homes ($47K more)
West, MS 39192 84%732$48,750$90,200— Very close on everything we compare
Mantee, MS 39751 84%686$74,226$95,000— older residents
Sturgis, MS 39769 84%689$69,079$156,300— pricier homes ($42K more)
Ewing, KY 41039 84%409$59,250$119,000$113 larger · older residents
Murray, IA 50174 84%974$67,250$132,400$122 smaller · older homes
Hickory, MS 39332 83%711$65,286$104,900— older homes
Germantown, KY 41044 83%421$54,406$118,600$108 older residents · 5 min longer commute
Morse, LA 70559 83%961$71,563$86,100— cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Agra, OK 74824 83%1,097$64,063$168,500$155 pricier homes ($54K more)
Sparta, KY 41086 82%467$61,824$168,800$137 pricier homes ($54K more) · older residents
Dunnville, KY 42528 82%440$50,227$158,800$76 pricier homes ($44K more)
Pedro, OH 45659 82%359$59,844$125,100$78 older residents
Medaryville, IN 47957 82%639$61,002$159,400$125 pricier homes ($45K more)

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.