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 Saint Pauls, NC 28384

Saint Pauls: median income $51,167, home value $94,000, $181/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Dublin, GA 31027 92%273$53,048$85,100$127 Very close on everything we compare
Gaston, SC 29053 91%139$56,703$126,300$140 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Pageland, SC 29728 90%81$45,250$130,900$159 pricier homes ($37K more)
La Feria, TX 78559 89%1,268$49,383$103,800$166 more single-family homes
Chaparral, NM 88081 89%1,577$46,017$109,300$187 larger
Blacksburg, SC 29702 88%144$49,705$126,600$159 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents
Joaquin, TX 75954 88%892$56,600$91,700— smaller
Nichols, SC 29581 87%40$54,701$88,500$172 smaller
Williston, SC 29853 87%170$44,983$107,100$172 smaller
Norman Park, GA 31771 87%366$62,978$87,700$137 smaller
Robeline, LA 71469 87%854$50,994$92,000— smaller
Dilley, TX 78017 87%1,257$59,808$103,100— smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Claxton, GA 30417 86%249$53,958$144,100$157 pricier homes ($50K more)
Baxley, GA 31513 86%285$46,203$76,100$119 Very close on everything we compare
Buena Vista, GA 31803 86%363$45,189$104,900$138 smaller
Barnwell, SC 29812 85%174$51,870$112,900$135 more single-family homes
Canutillo, TX 79835 85%1,601$45,924$109,300$168 6 min shorter commute
Beech Island, SC 29842 84%189$57,949$126,800$176 pricier homes ($33K more) · more single-family homes
Glennville, GA 30427 84%261$52,958$162,100$141 pricier homes ($68K more)
Canon, GA 30520 84%238$56,532$117,400$165 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Bowman, GA 30624 84%235$51,988$101,100$158 smaller
Moultrie, GA 31788 84%375$47,325$132,300$152 pricier homes ($38K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Jennings, FL 32053 84%381$44,519$103,000$152 smaller
Bowling Green, FL 33834 84%526$60,817$113,500$222 smaller · more single-family homes
Munford, AL 36268 84%407$55,625$90,900$123 smaller · more homeowners

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.