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 Ernul, NC 28527

Ernul: median income $74,190, home value $120,800, $244/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mize, MS 39116 94%758$72,109$137,900$289 larger
Norman, AR 71960 93%943$66,917$117,300$319 Very close on everything we compare
Bliss, NY 14024 92%510$86,833$137,100$193 Very close on everything we compare
New Zion, SC 29111 92%197$76,250$125,500— Very close on everything we compare
Barry, TX 75102 92%1,144$88,929$123,500$266 Very close on everything we compare
Brashear, TX 75420 92%1,076$72,521$134,000$291 smaller
Taberg, NY 13471 91%564$70,455$120,400$163 larger
Luthersburg, PA 15848 91%411$66,250$138,100— 5 min shorter commute
Gore Springs, MS 38929 91%721$68,202$104,400$204 Very close on everything we compare
Mantee, MS 39751 91%694$74,226$95,000— cheaper homes ($26K less)
Ewing, MO 63440 91%866$60,217$147,500$236 pricier homes ($27K more)
Barnsdall, OK 74002 91%1,070$66,027$125,000$203 Very close on everything we compare
Kenduskeag, ME 04450 90%793$79,792$177,900$294 pricier homes ($57K more)
Hannibal, NY 13074 90%557$81,563$144,400$192 larger
Castle Creek, NY 13744 90%488$61,086$120,000— younger residents
Sandyville, WV 25275 90%358$64,632$164,600— pricier homes ($44K more)
Hudson, IN 46747 90%614$75,662$161,400$176 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Campbellsburg, IN 47108 90%559$59,236$122,900$181 Very close on everything we compare
Harrisonburg, LA 71340 90%883$65,121$108,200— 5 min shorter commute
Drasco, AR 72530 90%838$66,875$163,200$187 pricier homes ($42K more)
Hudson, ME 04449 89%798$67,692$154,900$250 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents
Ethel, MS 39067 89%724$67,250$98,200— smaller
Mathiston, MS 39752 89%698$78,750$127,200— Very close on everything we compare
Scranton, KS 66537 89%1,058$70,000$99,800— more single-family homes
Crawfordsville, AR 72327 89%749$82,750$119,300— older 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.