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 Badin, NC 28009

Badin: median income $53,145, home value $160,200, $117/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Howes Cave, NY 12092 87%591$58,615$217,600$130 pricier homes ($57K more)
Trevorton, PA 17881 87%416$54,122$120,000$88 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Fayette, OH 43521 86%489$60,550$120,500$136 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · newer homes
Glenns Ferry, ID 83623 86%1,940$58,145$217,600$146 pricier homes ($57K more) · newer homes
Philmont, NY 12565 85%587$56,563$225,000— pricier homes ($65K more)
Edmeston, NY 13335 85%567$65,000$125,900$96 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Nunda, NY 14517 85%510$56,088$150,000$112 larger · 6 min longer commute
Rouses Point, NY 12979 84%751$45,850$190,900$130 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Midland, PA 15059 84%365$66,231$137,500$131 larger
Wenona, IL 61377 84%621$57,321$139,500$86 more single-family homes · newer homes
Vernon, NY 13476 83%584$62,798$204,000$148 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · newer homes
Oakfield, NY 14125 82%539$70,294$161,200$144 larger
Salisbury, PA 15558 82%306$64,038$142,000$113 more single-family homes
Elkland, PA 16920 82%479$60,000$157,100$73 6 min longer commute
Cressona, PA 17929 82%419$73,424$156,100$122 Very close on everything we compare
Port Carbon, PA 17965 82%424$61,284$110,800$102 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Merrill, OR 97633 82%2,260$62,019$205,900$152 pricier homes ($46K more) · newer homes
South Dayton, NY 14138 81%485$56,868$111,700$134 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Ovid, NY 14521 81%534$67,198$163,700$112 larger · newer homes
Mc Graw, NY 13101 80%542$63,587$143,700$112 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Gowanda, NY 14070 80%492$53,310$117,900$140 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Russellton, PA 15076 80%360$50,573$184,100$155 Very close on everything we compare
Point Marion, PA 15474 80%299$62,500$117,700$136 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Blossburg, PA 16912 80%463$69,982$148,400$120 larger · younger residents
Duryea, PA 18642 80%473$61,250$158,700$140 larger · newer 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.