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 Hoffman, NC 28347

Hoffman: median income $39,110, home value $91,300, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Augusta, MS 39462 91%609$44,513$93,500— Very close on everything we compare
Robeline, LA 71469 88%824$50,994$92,000— Very close on everything we compare
Hackleburg, AL 35564 85%475$44,096$98,600$121 8 min longer commute
Fayette, MS 39069 85%701$38,324$72,800$31 larger · older residents
Skidmore, TX 78389 85%1,165$37,195$86,200$118 older residents · more single-family homes
Mesquite, NM 88048 85%1,568$43,750$99,700$105 older residents
Vado, NM 88072 83%1,567$53,750$99,600— Very close on everything we compare
Meigs, GA 31765 82%379$42,083$100,800— more single-family homes · older homes
Potts Camp, MS 38659 82%554$39,593$85,800$95 older residents · more single-family homes
Columbia, LA 71418 82%750$40,785$91,500$121 larger · more renters
Pearson, GA 31642 81%320$41,574$69,300$47 larger · more renters
Harold, KY 41635 81%243$41,292$78,300$104 older residents
Saint George, GA 31562 80%343$35,694$130,100$196 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · younger residents
Buhl, AL 35446 80%485$39,313$158,200$176 pricier homes ($67K more) · 6 min longer commute
Hatch, NM 87937 80%1,587$39,495$97,400— older residents · more renters
Woodland, MS 39776 79%546$50,909$87,500— Very close on everything we compare
Mount Vernon, GA 30445 78%263$32,392$76,100$167 larger · more renters
Keavy, KY 40737 78%290$47,096$137,000$173 pricier homes ($46K more) · more single-family homes
Dexter, NM 88230 78%1,422$43,469$104,800$117 larger · older residents
Alamo, GA 30411 76%273$30,238$103,900$112 larger · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Pine Hill, AL 36769 76%508$36,884$73,600$48 older residents · 11 min longer commute
Henry, TN 38231 76%504$37,188$88,100$120 older residents · more single-family homes
Belle Rose, LA 70341 76%752$35,346$88,500$100 larger · older residents
Oberlin, LA 70655 76%824$50,893$90,600— older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Castor, LA 71016 76%801$41,806$114,000— older residents · more single-family 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.