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 Hobbsville, NC 27946

Hobbsville: median income $74,421, home value $204,400, $175/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brookeland, TX 75931 91%1,059$79,514$233,800$160 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Newberry Springs, CA 92365 89%2,240$67,600$183,300$193 larger
Winkelman, AZ 85192 85%1,944$59,922$161,800— cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Rocky Comfort, MO 64861 84%970$63,250$141,300$200 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Kissee Mills, MO 65680 84%911$77,563$186,200$151 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Fruitvale, TX 75127 84%1,119$60,366$216,800$172 larger · more single-family homes
Montvale, VA 24122 83%186$66,563$198,600$137 younger residents · more single-family homes
Bradford, ME 04410 82%725$82,955$176,200$163 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Welaka, FL 32193 82%557$56,528$280,600$225 pricier homes ($76K more)
Brooker, FL 32622 82%553$72,639$233,100$162 pricier homes ($29K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
De Soto, WI 54624 82%911$81,518$186,000$258 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Applegate, MI 48401 81%580$70,536$162,700$183 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more single-family homes
Valles Mines, MO 63087 81%769$60,313$217,200$148 younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Kopperl, TX 76652 81%1,228$73,545$207,700$115 8 min longer commute
Tygh Valley, OR 97063 81%2,383$58,490$278,100$253 pricier homes ($74K more) · 5 min longer commute
Dewitt, VA 23840 80%75$82,153$278,200$201 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Alpine, AL 35014 80%582$70,688$171,800$188 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · younger residents
Albion, ME 04910 79%678$62,361$230,900$185 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · younger residents
Harleyville, SC 29448 79%307$71,967$194,900$154 larger · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Londonderry, OH 45647 79%392$69,966$216,300$106 larger · more single-family homes
Turners Station, KY 40075 78%489$64,375$164,000$250 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more single-family homes
Kuttawa, KY 42055 78%640$63,456$179,400$152 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Robards, KY 42452 78%608$80,069$173,300$183 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Freetown, IN 47235 78%551$73,963$240,300$182 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Grand Marsh, WI 53936 78%864$55,515$137,500$154 cheaper homes ($67K less)

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.