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 Locust, NC 28097

Locust: median income $76,594, home value $314,400, $174/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Santa Fe, TX 77517 93%950$88,567$314,100$194 smaller
Inwood, WV 25428 92%312$82,885$247,700$185 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Lyman, SC 29365 92%100$76,966$261,800$179 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Adairsville, GA 30103 92%263$78,071$244,900$170 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Kingston, GA 30145 92%269$80,352$247,600$170 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Williamson, GA 30292 92%269$87,394$327,100$179 older residents
Colbert, GA 30628 92%180$70,139$287,900$186 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Palm Bay, FL 32908 92%504$79,596$303,600$187 larger
Loxley, AL 36551 92%533$76,354$250,000$172 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Chapel Hill, TN 37034 92%353$88,275$347,100$219 pricier homes ($33K more)
Kingsley, MI 49649 92%697$74,656$267,700$193 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older homes
Isanti, MN 55040 92%973$90,900$314,000$190 larger
Wright City, MO 63390 92%634$82,351$268,200$233 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Tucson, AZ 85757 92%1,770$83,219$308,400$184 larger
Zebulon, GA 30295 91%268$81,667$279,200$180 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Cedar Lake, IN 46303 91%569$84,211$293,500$197 larger
Maurice, LA 70555 91%768$76,213$224,900$146 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Elkins, AR 72727 91%764$75,402$214,400$189 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Diana, TX 75640 91%835$80,967$272,600$180 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Tolar, TX 76476 91%1,020$81,364$249,600$203 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Maricopa, AZ 85139 91%1,809$86,894$344,200$179 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Rydal, GA 30171 90%253$73,409$365,000$224 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller
Springfield, GA 31329 90%208$78,483$252,800$199 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Macclenny, FL 32063 90%359$75,683$260,800$191 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Jacksonville, FL 32219 90%345$72,184$229,000$175 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger

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.