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 Creston, NC 28615

Creston: median income $51,653, home value $152,600, $201/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Confluence, PA 15424 92%264$56,190$152,100$175 Very close on everything we compare
Grandview, TN 37337 92%185$48,359$184,900$257 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
West Paris, ME 04289 91%796$56,324$193,000$189 pricier homes ($40K more)
Richmondville, NY 12149 91%570$50,608$169,500$219 5 min shorter commute
Noxen, PA 18636 91%456$57,132$180,200$177 pricier homes ($28K more) · more homeowners
Livermore, KY 42352 91%311$53,750$143,000$153 younger residents
Eucha, OK 74342 91%737$57,321$160,500$269 Very close on everything we compare
Howland, ME 04448 90%909$54,750$152,000$148 Very close on everything we compare
Beaver Springs, PA 17812 90%381$59,338$160,100$171 Very close on everything we compare
Keysville, VA 23947 90%181$51,800$176,500$164 larger
Monroe, TN 38573 90%198$49,583$182,100$222 pricier homes ($30K more)
Magnolia, KY 42757 90%235$52,467$135,600$140 Very close on everything we compare
Nickelsville, VA 24271 89%47$58,625$161,500$166 Very close on everything we compare
Hurt, VA 24563 89%137$47,247$145,600$165 larger
South Salem, OH 45681 89%216$49,510$143,200$163 Very close on everything we compare
Luther, MI 49656 89%567$56,656$135,500$138 Very close on everything we compare
Perry, MO 63462 89%583$51,205$156,700$170 6 min shorter commute
Crescent, OK 73028 89%889$56,372$154,900$160 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Anson, ME 04911 88%841$62,697$121,800$211 cheaper homes ($31K less)
North Anson, ME 04958 88%846$55,089$156,300$177 more homeowners
Phillips, ME 04966 88%827$47,969$176,500$208 5 min shorter commute
Tioga, PA 16946 88%448$54,792$156,000$184 6 min shorter commute
Renick, WV 24966 88%128$52,396$115,300$168 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Terra Alta, WV 26764 88%237$61,010$150,500$174 larger
Waldo, FL 32694 88%461$43,537$124,200$177 cheaper homes ($28K less)

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.