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 Linden, NC 28356

Linden: median income $72,150, home value $225,300, $151/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hensley, AR 72065 96%765$75,857$223,100$145 Very close on everything we compare
Harlem, GA 30814 94%236$74,129$237,600$141 larger
Vine Grove, KY 40175 94%439$77,509$223,800$152 larger
Leesburg, OH 45135 94%386$79,629$210,000$165 Very close on everything we compare
Nicholson, GA 30565 93%274$75,179$266,600$174 pricier homes ($41K more)
Fultondale, AL 35068 93%471$73,750$195,100$147 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Maurice, LA 70555 93%851$76,213$224,900$146 Very close on everything we compare
Gentry, AR 72734 93%881$75,000$234,300$180 Very close on everything we compare
Alma, AR 72921 93%867$75,008$222,100$157 larger
Noble, OK 73068 93%1,045$73,821$192,000$149 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Hull, GA 30646 92%269$67,308$217,600$189 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Park, GA 31636 92%403$63,672$230,900$159 larger
Pine Mountain, GA 31822 92%385$66,302$249,300$195 Very close on everything we compare
Cullman, AL 35058 92%457$62,146$212,300$164 larger
Newton, AL 36352 92%476$71,997$174,500$154 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Smiths Station, AL 36877 92%406$78,103$224,200$172 larger
Upton, KY 42784 92%424$68,699$178,100$153 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Newport, MI 48166 92%525$69,592$234,800$168 larger
Diamond, MO 64840 92%874$65,000$225,600$147 smaller
Holts Summit, MO 65043 92%771$85,308$218,500$165 larger
Sheridan, AR 72150 92%772$73,818$188,600$153 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Lavaca, AR 72941 92%867$73,558$169,600$143 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Inola, OK 74036 92%939$79,824$215,900$173 Very close on everything we compare
Mounds, OK 74047 92%972$72,292$210,300$161 Very close on everything we compare
Broadway, VA 22815 91%234$74,899$278,700$190 pricier homes ($53K more)

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.