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 Olin, NC 28660

Olin: median income $77,278, home value $216,100, $222/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tieton, WA 98947 92%2,172$75,057$243,100$238 pricier homes ($27K more)
Ellendale, DE 19941 85%358$75,139$243,800$208 pricier homes ($28K more) · more homeowners
Crittenden, KY 41030 85%283$83,488$248,300$195 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Ray City, GA 31645 84%363$70,833$140,800$172 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Holmesville, OH 44633 84%328$64,688$215,200— more single-family homes
Roberts, ID 83444 84%1,731$88,438$263,000$173 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Rosepine, LA 70659 83%795$65,640$204,400— smaller
Beasley, TX 77417 83%985$75,405$184,300$151 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · older homes
Bigfoot, TX 78005 83%1,150$70,559$263,000$218 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · older residents
Coolidge, GA 31738 82%385$69,950$176,900$166 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Joseph City, AZ 86032 82%1,654$73,194$177,000— cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents · older homes
Romance, AR 72136 81%632$78,328$194,300$134 6 min longer commute
Tyler, TX 75708 81%855$85,441$157,400$187 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Poth, TX 78147 81%1,109$72,404$225,000$187 smaller
Fredonia, AZ 86022 81%1,752$61,923$256,000$196 pricier homes ($40K more)
Umatilla, OR 97882 81%2,101$69,223$244,800$232 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · older residents
Dry Ridge, KY 41035 80%281$68,138$198,900$195 larger · older residents
Warsaw, KY 41095 80%294$66,905$180,700$149 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Gloster, LA 71030 80%785$64,146$207,600$183 Very close on everything we compare
Philadelphia, NY 13673 79%628$81,167$185,900$161 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Talmo, GA 30575 79%203$84,750$269,600$169 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller · older residents
Pierson, FL 32180 79%467$77,394$310,300$219 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger · more homeowners
Holly Pond, AL 35083 79%348$55,335$225,400$180 larger
Morrison, TN 37357 79%285$59,268$168,400$225 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Forest Hill, LA 71430 79%753$63,636$180,300$130 cheaper homes ($36K 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.