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 Holly Ridge, NC 28445

Holly Ridge: median income $84,016, home value $386,100, $246/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Beaufort, SC 29907 94%229$97,446$428,000$259 pricier homes ($42K more)
Ravenel, SC 29470 93%194$86,410$345,000$215 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Newberry, FL 32669 92%445$99,548$343,300$198 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Lutz, FL 33549 90%526$89,343$385,900$248 larger · older homes
Slinger, WI 53086 89%838$103,426$387,100$214 Very close on everything we compare
East Helena, MT 59635 89%1,968$83,740$395,600$277 older homes
Gray, ME 04039 88%755$95,125$357,500$270 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older homes
Gansevoort, NY 12831 88%635$100,024$343,100$264 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Forest, VA 24551 88%219$91,067$362,500$187 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Tonganoxie, KS 66086 88%1,020$98,318$325,900$212 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Lake Dallas, TX 75065 88%1,120$102,597$334,400$194 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Bayfield, CO 81122 88%1,687$93,714$459,800$322 pricier homes ($74K more)
Berwick, ME 03901 87%706$94,771$369,100$261 older homes
Gordonsville, VA 22942 87%257$87,826$333,600$222 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Ashland, VA 23005 87%224$89,335$402,700$256 larger · older homes
Alachua, FL 32615 87%433$85,701$297,200$172 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Orlando, FL 32820 87%460$106,859$438,600$221 pricier homes ($53K more)
Pelham, AL 35124 87%535$99,726$307,600$182 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Piney Flats, TN 37686 87%301$84,264$352,200$211 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Washington, MI 48094 87%640$98,017$418,200$204 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
New Hudson, MI 48165 87%643$106,220$389,000$203 Very close on everything we compare
Whitmore Lake, MI 48189 87%643$87,145$313,400$217 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older homes
Adel, IA 50003 87%1,021$103,114$395,400$256 6 min shorter commute
Rockford, MN 55373 87%1,124$105,556$363,900$190 smaller
Platte City, MO 64079 87%1,008$99,161$350,900$188 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more renters

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.