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 Polkton, NC 28135

Polkton: median income $66,920, home value $208,600, $112/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jarratt, VA 23867 91%196$61,155$201,800$141 Very close on everything we compare
Town Creek, AL 35672 91%413$61,925$148,500$138 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Patterson, LA 70392 91%745$57,959$159,100$107 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Mayo, FL 32066 90%383$63,086$168,300$163 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Lincoln, AR 72744 90%805$65,850$186,800$170 Very close on everything we compare
Tallapoosa, GA 30176 89%305$64,705$197,000$154 larger
Hardinsburg, KY 40143 89%399$59,475$155,900$130 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Mount Hermon, LA 70450 89%649$61,333$200,000— smaller
Terra Bella, CA 93270 89%2,174$67,136$308,100$145 pricier homes ($100K more)
Glade Hill, VA 24092 88%140$64,388$222,900$132 Very close on everything we compare
Duncanville, AL 35456 88%438$56,574$202,300$172 Very close on everything we compare
Horton, AL 35980 88%355$57,277$173,200$144 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Marionville, MO 65705 88%766$61,000$166,800$116 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Niangua, MO 65713 88%723$63,750$197,100$128 smaller · more single-family homes
Saint Bernard, LA 70085 88%666$55,167$156,600$118 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Cave City, AR 72521 88%644$59,591$146,800$97 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Prague, OK 74864 88%933$65,304$192,100$127 more single-family homes
Rusk, TX 75785 88%888$65,000$165,000$114 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Beasley, TX 77417 88%998$75,405$184,300$151 younger residents
Thomasville, PA 17364 87%386$75,677$215,900$156 Very close on everything we compare
Newington, GA 30446 87%183$75,521$141,000$128 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Chester, GA 31012 87%249$70,391$145,500$141 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Russellville, AL 35654 87%427$60,674$172,800$126 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Fyffe, AL 35971 87%330$58,528$143,100$140 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Elmore, AL 36025 87%392$54,414$175,700$141 cheaper homes ($33K 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.