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 Southern Pines, NC 28387

Southern Pines: median income $74,830, home value $410,800, $226/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Knoxville, TN 37923 93%268$73,699$333,000$213 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Bedford, TX 76021 92%1,027$87,097$374,400$206 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Nashville, TN 37214 91%413$72,012$340,900$243 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Grafton, WI 53024 90%725$92,390$366,300$244 cheaper homes ($45K less)
New Orleans, LA 70123 90%725$83,585$348,100$187 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Las Cruces, NM 88011 90%1,574$75,875$333,400$191 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Greenville, SC 29615 89%167$76,117$377,500$212 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Hermitage, TN 37076 89%410$74,663$384,400$218 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Haslett, MI 48840 89%589$73,408$280,900$184 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Spearfish, SD 57783 89%1,442$74,844$373,300$233 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Brunswick, ME 04011 88%783$74,952$376,300$301 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more homeowners
Huntsville, AL 35802 88%407$76,324$334,100$170 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Flowood, MS 39232 88%645$82,931$365,000$187 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · newer homes
Tyler, TX 75703 88%935$79,194$336,300$179 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Spokane, WA 99224 88%2,130$80,770$461,000$247 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · newer homes
Baton Rouge, LA 70809 87%754$79,967$324,000$182 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger
Troy, MI 48083 86%548$90,794$315,800$199 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Kalamazoo, MI 49009 86%597$80,930$346,600$181 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Des Moines, IA 50321 86%888$80,351$320,500$212 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Kansas City, MO 64153 86%887$82,964$353,200$186 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · newer homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73142 86%1,026$81,818$364,300$178 cheaper homes ($47K less) · newer homes
San Antonio, TX 78232 86%1,176$85,273$362,000$188 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · more walkable
Tucson, AZ 85704 86%1,818$81,696$423,900$232 larger · older residents
Hershey, PA 17033 85%382$72,945$384,100$198 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Tallahassee, FL 32311 85%430$81,243$321,600$207 cheaper homes ($89K less) · newer 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.