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 Laurel Hill, NC 28351

Laurel Hill: median income $50,156, home value $88,200, $105/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Robeline, LA 71469 95%822$50,994$92,000— smaller
Joaquin, TX 75954 94%860$56,600$91,700— Very close on everything we compare
East Dublin, GA 31027 92%247$53,048$85,100$127 larger
Latta, SC 29565 91%34$44,871$72,600$99 larger
Columbia, LA 71418 91%748$40,785$91,500$121 Very close on everything we compare
Mesquite, NM 88048 91%1,569$43,750$99,700$105 Very close on everything we compare
Buena Vista, GA 31803 90%335$45,189$104,900$138 Very close on everything we compare
Munford, AL 36268 90%376$55,625$90,900$123 more homeowners
Hoboken, GA 31542 89%295$50,938$122,500$117 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Norman Park, GA 31771 89%343$62,978$87,700$137 larger
Raiford, FL 32083 89%363$55,313$115,000$118 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Mount Olive, MS 39119 89%620$49,766$72,600$105 more single-family homes
Port Barre, LA 70577 89%777$47,072$101,600$96 Very close on everything we compare
Tenaha, TX 75974 89%870$47,292$91,300— smaller
Timpson, TX 75975 89%880$44,297$96,900— Very close on everything we compare
Dilley, TX 78017 89%1,226$59,808$103,100— Very close on everything we compare
Scranton, SC 29591 88%63$65,000$93,300$110 older residents
Nicholls, GA 31554 88%292$53,504$98,700$70 larger
Axson, GA 31624 88%305$50,903$95,200— smaller
Homerville, GA 31634 88%320$46,332$92,300$116 Very close on everything we compare
Harold, KY 41635 88%254$41,292$78,300$104 older residents
Coeburn, VA 24230 87%220$48,573$101,600$123 larger · more single-family homes
Turbeville, SC 29162 87%70$61,979$111,800$125 Very close on everything we compare
Hamer, SC 29547 87%26$55,472$95,100$144 smaller
East Bernstadt, KY 40729 87%306$47,077$104,700$119 older residents

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.