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.

Reset

Towns most like Dover, NC 28526

Dover: median income $39,110, home value $124,200, $42/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bolton, MS 39041 90%776$41,137$174,600— pricier homes ($50K more)
Clover, VA 24534 87%137$41,038$137,500— older homes
Walton, WV 25286 87%321$45,250$106,500— Very close on everything we compare
Maynard, AR 72444 87%760$32,276$152,800— pricier homes ($29K more)
Oakwood, TX 75855 85%1,094$45,962$186,000— pricier homes ($62K more)
Duck Hill, MS 38925 84%709$41,217$123,400— younger residents
Ehrhardt, SC 29081 82%256$38,147$105,700— smaller · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Mc Dermott, OH 45652 82%400$42,708$137,000— larger · younger residents
Lester, WV 25865 81%278$38,173$170,000$62 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Ider, AL 35981 81%470$45,556$152,200— pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Millfield, OH 45761 81%388$48,750$108,200$54 7 min shorter commute
Weir, MS 39772 80%694$44,318$91,700— cheaper homes ($33K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Delight, AR 71940 80%922$47,935$97,800$64 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Zavalla, TX 75980 80%1,023$45,439$94,500— cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Reedy, WV 25270 79%337$44,129$200,800— pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller · younger residents
Kermit, WV 25674 79%331$38,495$101,900— younger residents
Gueydan, LA 70542 79%952$41,971$93,500— cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · younger residents
Melville, LA 71353 79%892$37,405$118,300— younger residents · older homes
Plumerville, AR 72127 79%860$52,250$146,100$52 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Utica, MS 39175 78%791$46,488$118,300$67 larger · younger residents
Haworth, OK 74740 78%987$41,141$99,700— younger residents
Vansant, VA 24656 77%297$43,646$95,600— cheaper homes ($29K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Gloster, MS 39638 77%832$37,185$95,400$53 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · younger residents
Wayne City, IL 62895 77%656$51,131$117,800— 8 min shorter commute
Moreauville, LA 71355 77%886$50,417$168,900$40 pricier homes ($45K more) · younger residents · 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.