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 Grandy, NC 27939

Grandy: median income $62,463, home value $306,100, $247/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Walker, MN 56484 92%1,217$67,019$311,200$272 older residents
Rexford, MT 59930 91%2,155$61,923$287,400$301 smaller
Kettle Falls, WA 99141 91%2,280$58,302$320,700$201 larger
Oak Hill, FL 32759 89%585$61,671$289,300$229 more apartments and townhomes
Darby, MT 59829 89%2,083$63,650$437,900$315 pricier homes ($132K more) · older homes
Anchor Point, AK 99556 89%3,620$62,179$239,200$286 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Kasilof, AK 99610 89%3,601$56,333$278,600$278 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more single-family homes
Clayton, GA 30525 88%433$65,150$274,200$258 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Panacea, FL 32346 88%653$61,700$267,200$257 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older homes
Wedowee, AL 36278 88%581$58,214$261,000$240 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Monteagle, TN 37356 88%562$59,026$298,300$264 younger residents
Jenkinsburg, GA 30234 87%504$56,905$232,000$166 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Young Harris, GA 30582 87%457$59,360$329,900$212 larger
Plains, MT 59859 87%2,126$64,846$429,200$278 pricier homes ($123K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Weston, CO 81091 87%1,599$50,179$351,900$218 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Hagerman, ID 83332 87%2,109$64,792$226,200$250 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older homes
Franklin, ME 04634 86%704$67,589$264,600$166 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Bracey, VA 23919 86%126$66,750$300,000$203 more apartments and townhomes
Thompsonville, MI 49683 86%779$61,250$187,200$272 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Webster, WI 54893 86%1,082$56,129$234,200$220 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · older homes
Motley, MN 56466 86%1,189$61,910$237,100$252 cheaper homes ($69K less) · older homes
Pine River, MN 56474 86%1,198$59,922$238,600$238 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · younger residents
Rocky Mount, MO 65072 86%935$78,750$335,700$286 pricier homes ($30K more)
Tioga, TX 76271 86%1,205$78,125$329,300$220 Very close on everything we compare
Chewelah, WA 99109 86%2,265$62,391$327,400$235 larger · older homes

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.