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 Castle Hayne, NC 28429

Castle Hayne: median income $72,337, home value $239,200, $214/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Roebuck, SC 29376 92%233$70,645$234,200$158 Very close on everything we compare
Warren, ME 04864 91%820$74,616$232,700$251 smaller · older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32219 91%352$72,184$229,000$175 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, FL 32220 91%358$81,792$254,700$172 Very close on everything we compare
Rainsville, AL 35986 91%452$68,056$221,600$159 Very close on everything we compare
Winchester, TN 37398 91%469$63,730$247,800$200 larger
East Jordan, MI 49727 91%840$70,865$222,200$205 Very close on everything we compare
Black Hawk, SD 57718 91%1,513$84,162$300,100$195 pricier homes ($61K more)
Doylestown, OH 44230 90%503$79,526$229,000$189 older homes
Lawton, MI 49065 90%690$71,447$233,100$219 older homes
Fennville, MI 49408 90%722$73,452$229,900$264 less walkable
Luling, LA 70070 90%789$76,539$273,800$172 pricier homes ($35K more)
Greenwood, DE 19950 89%336$75,305$292,900$202 pricier homes ($54K more)
Ridgeley, WV 26753 89%365$73,694$213,100$153 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Moore, SC 29369 89%237$82,924$263,300$161 larger
Rocky Face, GA 30740 89%408$79,671$242,600$168 less walkable
Macon, GA 31216 89%353$72,452$212,300$142 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Sebring, FL 33875 89%518$77,482$237,200$180 older residents
Fremont, IN 46737 89%639$74,975$199,200$240 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents
Sparta, MI 49345 89%740$85,463$274,200$203 pricier homes ($35K more)
Cameron, WI 54822 89%1,057$70,000$235,700$174 smaller
Cumberland, WI 54829 89%1,074$66,538$245,800$217 smaller · older homes
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472 89%1,204$81,328$342,500$254 pricier homes ($103K more)
Cherry Valley, IL 61016 89%809$84,883$231,200$175 smaller
Marshfield, MO 65706 89%865$74,830$234,700$169 larger

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.