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 Shannon, NC 28386

Shannon: median income $31,777, home value $69,700, $133/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Vernon, GA 30445 86%271$32,392$76,100$167 smaller
Columbia, LA 71418 85%769$40,785$91,500$121 Very close on everything we compare
Shubuta, MS 39360 84%586$31,714$66,200— more single-family homes
Lake, MS 39092 83%610$31,937$47,600— smaller · older residents
Skidmore, TX 78389 81%1,182$37,195$86,200$118 smaller
Alamo, GA 30411 80%283$30,238$103,900$112 pricier homes ($34K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Warrenton, GA 30828 80%223$36,444$75,200$144 smaller · older residents · more single-family homes
Rupert, WV 25984 79%228$27,183$82,100$110 smaller · more single-family homes
Oglethorpe, GA 31068 79%335$30,352$69,400— older residents
Ashburn, GA 31714 79%340$33,287$94,200$146 more renters
Shuqualak, MS 39361 79%554$30,877$54,000— smaller
Belle Rose, LA 70341 79%768$35,346$88,500$100 older residents
Sanders, AZ 86512 79%1,699$31,087$76,300— smaller · more single-family homes
Hackleburg, AL 35564 78%496$44,096$98,600$121 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Fort Deposit, AL 36032 78%471$35,256$77,800$98 smaller · 9 min longer commute
Uniontown, AL 36786 78%507$33,375$70,800— smaller · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Hermanville, MS 39086 78%702$25,833$55,700— smaller
Latta, SC 29565 77%41$44,871$72,600$99 Very close on everything we compare
Clayton, AL 36016 77%417$41,131$76,700$114 older residents
Mescalero, NM 88340 77%1,522$36,927$48,600— smaller · more single-family homes
Rockholds, KY 40759 76%306$34,909$97,300$137 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · older residents
Harold, KY 41635 76%265$41,292$78,300$104 smaller · older residents
Many Farms, AZ 86538 76%1,706$30,268$45,600— smaller
Mc Coll, SC 29570 75%27$30,768$55,300$85 more renters
Henning, TN 38041 74%595$41,042$95,500$97 pricier homes ($26K more) · 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.