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.

Reset

Towns most like Gates, NC 27937

Gates: median income $70,086, home value $160,000, $195/sq ft, 41-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Beechgrove, TN 37018 96%530$63,091$196,700$187 pricier homes ($37K more)
Big Rock, TN 37023 94%609$75,391$216,100$208 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Fruithurst, AL 36262 92%525$68,611$155,600— smaller
Beckville, TX 75631 92%1,049$83,750$146,800$203 Very close on everything we compare
Kenna, WV 25248 91%304$67,652$161,200$160 6 min shorter commute
Greenville, GA 30222 91%512$64,151$137,700$187 larger
Verbena, AL 36091 91%611$61,214$115,100$165 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Springfield, AR 72157 91%886$62,931$140,300— smaller
Wellston, OK 74881 91%1,133$60,923$146,000$146 larger
Murchison, TX 75778 91%1,119$57,589$154,900$204 Very close on everything we compare
Shelbyville, TX 75973 91%1,037$67,023$130,800— cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Mc Kenney, VA 23872 90%64$75,913$215,200$213 pricier homes ($55K more)
Haddock, GA 31033 90%447$68,942$169,900$127 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, AL 35049 90%579$65,644$190,600$163 pricier homes ($31K more)
Bigelow, AR 72016 90%895$64,280$172,400$196 Very close on everything we compare
Kellyville, OK 74039 90%1,083$64,286$159,600$158 7 min shorter commute
Gary, TX 75643 90%1,050$59,342$142,000$166 Very close on everything we compare
Hosford, FL 32334 89%628$60,781$111,600$202 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Berry, AL 35546 89%643$69,531$167,600$197 younger residents
Ohatchee, AL 36271 89%556$68,250$135,900$187 larger · more homeowners
Speedwell, TN 37870 89%391$55,516$126,400$205 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Axtell, TX 76624 89%1,202$79,625$188,300$153 pricier homes ($28K more)
Cottageville, SC 29435 88%323$58,813$168,500$215 more apartments and townhomes
Buchanan, GA 30113 88%508$72,417$197,700$184 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Gilbertown, AL 36908 88%734$68,125$111,400— cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller

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.