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 Merry Hill, NC 27957

Merry Hill: median income $36,875, home value $140,100, $105/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gainesville, MO 65655 72%870$37,337$176,000$145 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Magdalena, NM 87825 72%1,720$30,596$104,000— cheaper homes ($36K less)
Nucla, CO 81424 71%1,747$39,960$206,000— pricier homes ($66K more) · younger residents · older homes
Arenas Valley, NM 88022 70%1,796$37,147$173,100— pricier homes ($33K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Menard, TX 76859 68%1,369$47,443$110,900— cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · more homeowners
Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579 67%184$45,944$165,600$120 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents
Van Lear, KY 41265 66%347$35,833$157,400$105 younger residents · more homeowners
Mc Gregor, IA 52157 66%903$52,625$193,500$130 pricier homes ($53K more) · younger residents
Tombstone, AZ 85638 64%1,923$37,604$184,000$242 pricier homes ($44K more)
Earp, CA 92242 63%2,113$37,500$128,100$107 more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Hot Springs, MT 59845 62%2,080$31,970$191,100$179 pricier homes ($51K more) · younger residents · older homes
Van Buren, ME 04785 61%889$41,528$114,200$126 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · younger residents
Marlinton, WV 24954 61%237$37,899$144,000$109 larger · younger residents
Mc Neal, AZ 85617 61%1,915$43,967$123,000$151 younger residents · 12 min longer commute
Hiltons, VA 24258 60%317$44,659$122,000$134 younger residents · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Atkins, VA 24311 60%263$48,516$93,100$117 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · younger residents
Shaw, MS 38773 60%811$30,661$110,400— cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · younger residents
Worthville, KY 41098 60%487$33,125$86,300$105 cheaper homes ($54K less) · younger residents
Hermitage, MO 65668 60%919$38,449$138,400$145 larger · 12 min longer commute
Bodfish, CA 93205 60%2,318$39,590$143,100$183 larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Bull Shoals, AR 72619 59%881$45,042$161,600$134 larger · younger residents · 9 min longer commute
Stoutland, MO 65567 58%876$55,050$147,600$192 younger residents · more homeowners
Meeteetse, WY 82433 58%1,776$44,881$225,000$115 pricier homes ($85K more) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Winona, MO 65588 57%808$44,500$155,900$158 larger · younger residents
Horseshoe Bend, AR 72512 57%835$46,449$130,100$97 larger · younger residents · 10 min longer commute

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.