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 Cerro Gordo, NC 28430

Cerro Gordo: median income $68,356, home value $180,600, $126/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rhine, GA 31077 90%296$54,688$172,600— Very close on everything we compare
Niangua, MO 65713 90%804$63,750$197,100$128 younger residents
Wortham, TX 76693 89%1,027$55,645$176,100$149 Very close on everything we compare
Meherrin, VA 23954 88%196$77,756$170,700$151 larger · younger residents
Vevay, IN 47043 88%461$75,123$190,400$144 larger
Knapp, WI 54749 88%1,013$77,903$215,200$107 pricier homes ($35K more) · more homeowners
Vienna, MO 65582 88%773$60,278$172,600$152 Very close on everything we compare
Tyler, TX 75705 88%944$81,346$197,200$143 Very close on everything we compare
Sandy Creek, NY 13145 87%663$60,625$142,200$142 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Gillett, PA 16925 87%542$64,792$172,700$138 larger · more homeowners
Stapleton, GA 30823 87%217$61,607$111,100$130 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Minco, OK 73059 87%1,081$73,125$169,100$130 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Laceyville, PA 18623 86%531$74,798$176,800$85 6 min shorter commute
Jarratt, VA 23867 86%192$61,155$201,800$141 larger
Brodnax, VA 23920 86%176$64,135$128,300$149 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Walkersville, WV 26447 86%326$64,688$207,900— pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Branchville, SC 29432 86%130$54,826$157,900$107 larger
Newington, GA 30446 86%190$75,521$141,000$128 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents
Florala, AL 36442 86%487$62,847$117,700$129 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Imler, PA 16655 85%409$66,823$162,700$151 more homeowners
Ulster, PA 18850 85%537$71,739$175,200$127 more homeowners
Wildwood, GA 30757 85%373$60,947$173,600$149 Very close on everything we compare
Dutton, AL 35744 85%398$54,868$157,900$99 larger
Adairville, KY 42202 85%476$62,656$139,400$142 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents
Earlville, IL 60518 85%740$69,980$165,500$162 larger · older 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.