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.

Reset

Towns most like Wadesboro, NC 28170

Wadesboro: median income $39,548, home value $154,400, $130/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chase City, VA 23924 94%155$44,291$146,900$122 smaller
Parsons, TN 38363 93%456$43,704$120,900$115 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Livingston, TN 38570 93%310$41,785$163,800$169 Very close on everything we compare
Bogalusa, LA 70427 93%638$38,074$133,400$99 larger
Union, SC 29379 92%90$40,879$109,900$113 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Atmore, AL 36502 92%508$44,360$139,000$123 larger
El Dorado Springs, MO 64744 92%800$47,685$167,900$118 Very close on everything we compare
Jonesville, VA 24263 91%208$39,364$114,700$105 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Chatham, VA 24531 91%133$43,333$148,000$127 more homeowners
Johnston, SC 29832 91%127$42,500$130,600$127 smaller
Quincy, FL 32351 91%402$38,967$134,600$120 larger
Brownsville, TN 38012 91%520$45,974$161,500$127 Very close on everything we compare
Maysville, KY 41056 91%326$47,141$164,800$135 Very close on everything we compare
Austin, IN 47102 91%410$41,583$129,900$129 smaller
Lake Charles, LA 70615 91%825$40,047$140,400$123 Very close on everything we compare
Minden, LA 71055 91%775$36,953$127,000$101 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Okemah, OK 74859 91%917$42,701$130,500$119 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Lawrenceville, VA 23868 90%175$45,458$133,200$103 smaller
Lake City, SC 29560 90%79$46,601$125,900$112 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Summerville, GA 30747 90%301$51,356$124,200$134 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Stevenson, AL 35772 90%328$39,313$143,500$137 smaller
Tompkinsville, KY 42167 90%338$48,497$114,200$131 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Linton, IN 47441 90%482$47,636$119,000$108 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Baton Rouge, LA 70814 90%710$51,529$188,300$128 pricier homes ($34K more)
Sylvania, GA 30467 89%179$46,909$126,700$125 cheaper homes ($28K less)

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.