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 Stella, NC 28582

Stella: median income $89,348, home value $354,900, $174/sq ft, 41-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Buckhead, GA 30625 92%365$88,534$389,100$192 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Parker, KS 66072 89%1,019$101,875$296,800$235 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Elgin, AZ 85611 89%1,933$91,458$380,300$248 pricier homes ($25K more)
Ramah, CO 80832 88%1,514$90,556$450,000$205 pricier homes ($95K more) · smaller
Concord, GA 30206 87%435$88,205$282,600$197 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Paige, TX 78659 87%1,205$89,808$349,700$210 larger · 7 min longer commute
Providence Forge, VA 23140 86%184$97,500$336,600$203 larger
Schuyler, VA 22969 85%226$94,659$314,200$234 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents
Spring Grove, VA 23881 85%167$109,531$318,800$208 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Pierson, MI 49339 85%742$86,611$241,100$206 cheaper homes ($114K less) · younger residents
Kingsville, MO 64061 85%975$85,987$283,000$229 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Cross Junction, VA 22625 84%324$95,515$361,900$209 larger
Richards, TX 77873 84%1,127$80,938$285,000$198 cheaper homes ($70K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Deer Trail, CO 80105 84%1,514$79,792$374,300$154 Very close on everything we compare
Greenwood, CA 95635 84%2,414$101,250$485,200$250 pricier homes ($130K more)
Vader, WA 98593 84%2,496$84,244$343,800$273 Very close on everything we compare
Bentonville, VA 22610 83%286$81,500$337,700$246 Very close on everything we compare
Greenbackville, VA 23356 83%243$101,855$269,500$190 cheaper homes ($85K less) · older residents
Springfield, WV 26763 83%335$68,384$261,500$186 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Mulberry, TN 37359 83%527$77,941$274,600— cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · less walkable
Rossville, TN 38066 83%704$107,660$377,900$200 larger · older residents
Shafer, MN 55074 83%1,100$106,625$297,500$225 cheaper homes ($57K less) · younger residents
Bates City, MO 64011 83%980$82,981$377,100$200 larger
Raymond, NE 68428 83%1,150$115,000$385,600$198 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($31K more) · older homes
Lipan, TX 76462 83%1,206$99,160$360,800$203 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.