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 Laurel Springs, NC 28644

Laurel Springs: median income $52,798, home value $222,400, $135/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chelsea, VT 05038 82%697$62,000$254,800$154 pricier homes ($32K more)
Milltown, WI 54858 81%857$53,901$213,100$114 Very close on everything we compare
Burdett, NY 14818 80%477$69,107$231,900$165 more homeowners
Lovingston, VA 22949 80%161$52,679$272,700$240 pricier homes ($50K more)
Shady Valley, TN 37688 80%36$53,333$164,300$176 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Remsen, NY 13438 79%575$69,797$192,900$135 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · more homeowners
Rapidan, VA 22733 79%220$74,180$243,100$127 Very close on everything we compare
New Middletown, OH 44442 79%315$61,528$195,800$181 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more homeowners
Port Sanilac, MI 48469 79%488$56,023$162,700$134 cheaper homes ($60K less) · more homeowners
Lometa, TX 76853 79%1,046$71,500$245,500$154 more homeowners
Meeteetse, WY 82433 79%1,545$44,881$225,000$115 6 min shorter commute
Harmony, ME 04942 78%849$53,636$170,300$202 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Cuddebackville, NY 12729 78%499$66,982$330,100$175 pricier homes ($108K more) · older residents
Au Sable Forks, NY 12912 78%681$70,046$189,200$121 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more homeowners
Cameron, WV 26033 78%236$55,972$153,600— cheaper homes ($69K less) · older homes
Medon, TN 38356 78%433$60,594$159,300$169 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Henning, MN 56551 78%998$63,750$238,200$167 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Eugene, MO 65032 78%624$63,125$213,200$156 5 min shorter commute
Thorndale, TX 76577 78%1,000$64,107$218,400$154 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Mountainair, NM 87036 78%1,409$47,132$209,100$111 more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Jackman, ME 04945 77%854$52,045$197,000$184 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more homeowners
Strong, ME 04983 77%817$53,894$190,500$195 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Moriah, NY 12960 77%665$64,702$144,300$153 cheaper homes ($78K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Equinunk, PA 18417 77%493$63,333$257,700$179 pricier homes ($35K more) · more homeowners
Union, WV 24983 77%88$51,667$219,900$126 more homeowners

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.