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 Shallotte, NC 28470

Shallotte: median income $65,030, home value $276,300, $177/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Wales, FL 33859 93%462$57,760$215,300$167 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Reeds Spring, MO 65737 93%862$63,811$256,900$198 Very close on everything we compare
Williston, FL 32696 91%396$61,020$229,500$188 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 91%905$66,667$227,000$184 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older homes
Grove, OK 74344 91%939$58,125$221,400$182 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Mohave Valley, AZ 86440 91%2,052$63,188$242,300$244 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Pahrump, NV 89048 91%2,118$61,367$304,900$202 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Inverness, FL 34453 90%421$57,568$224,300$176 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Wildwood, FL 34785 90%413$66,136$387,600$169 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger
Monticello, FL 32344 89%399$61,199$247,400$183 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older homes
Elberta, AL 36530 89%591$63,393$280,100$208 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Tyler, TX 75709 89%988$75,625$240,600$176 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Aransas Pass, TX 78336 89%1,185$58,420$214,200$183 cheaper homes ($62K less) · younger residents
Longs, SC 29568 88%23$62,653$254,900$181 larger
Tavares, FL 32778 88%407$63,472$266,500$185 larger · 6 min longer commute
Camdenton, MO 65020 88%849$62,392$265,200$231 5 min shorter commute
Chandler, TX 75758 88%997$57,859$201,200$172 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Bridgeville, DE 19933 87%365$60,703$269,200$201 younger residents
Bunnell, FL 32110 87%356$57,485$246,500$191 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Vero Beach, FL 32962 87%456$66,664$270,600$178 larger · older homes
Dunnellon, FL 34433 87%420$58,946$239,400$164 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Pearl River, LA 70452 87%708$62,917$233,400$159 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Granbury, TX 76048 87%1,123$70,346$246,000$177 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Ingram, TX 78025 87%1,249$70,964$248,200$202 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · older homes
Lake City, FL 32024 86%366$60,811$218,300$205 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · younger residents

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.