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 Spencer, NC 28159

Spencer: median income $63,036, home value $200,300, $165/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belle Plaine, KS 67013 86%942$69,831$156,300$148 cheaper homes ($44K less) · less walkable
Helper, UT 84526 85%1,678$59,850$228,100$155 pricier homes ($28K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Bentleyville, PA 15314 84%307$59,356$166,300$134 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Knightstown, IN 46148 84%398$63,914$186,800$128 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Crystal City, MO 63019 84%576$72,569$186,000$164 newer homes
Dwight, IL 60420 83%570$71,157$167,100$151 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Montpelier, ID 83254 83%1,710$64,839$253,800$155 pricier homes ($54K more) · more homeowners
Osawatomie, KS 66064 82%823$67,321$172,100$164 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · more homeowners
Wurtsboro, NY 12790 81%518$79,193$208,800$218 less walkable
East Brady, PA 16028 81%368$62,750$162,200$114 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Sandy Lake, PA 16145 81%391$67,321$180,100$150 more homeowners · newer homes
Duryea, PA 18642 81%465$61,250$158,700$140 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Mechanicsville, IA 52306 81%724$61,875$167,500$140 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Valley Falls, KS 66088 81%861$75,795$196,000$134 newer homes
Mitchell, NE 69357 81%1,325$70,104$182,400$118 8 min shorter commute
Richford, VT 05476 80%759$57,361$196,700$183 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Fair Haven, VT 05743 80%667$68,409$196,100$165 more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Orleans, VT 05860 80%768$64,850$204,500$167 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
West Newton, PA 15089 80%314$60,533$164,500$159 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · older residents
Roaring Spring, PA 16673 80%339$70,464$159,500$128 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Jessup, PA 18434 80%478$62,922$164,000$158 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more apartments and townhomes
North Jackson, OH 44451 80%374$61,250$241,100$193 pricier homes ($41K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Pandora, OH 45877 80%410$68,665$179,200$145 9 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Farmland, IN 47340 80%403$63,205$175,200$139 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Coloma, MI 49038 80%550$62,636$206,800$199 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.