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 Thurmond, NC 28683

Thurmond: median income $45,423, home value $176,600, $230/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Climax, GA 39834 91%429$47,708$153,900— younger residents
Green Bay, VA 23942 90%155$51,505$211,700$192 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Stantonville, TN 38379 90%428$41,136$170,800$250 more single-family homes
Welling, OK 74471 90%778$45,948$156,700$178 younger residents
Mount Upton, NY 13809 89%512$52,167$206,900— pricier homes ($30K more)
Grady, AL 36036 89%422$47,557$141,700— cheaper homes ($35K less) · 7 min longer commute
Gilbert, LA 71336 89%678$45,868$209,800— pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents
Wyandotte, OK 74370 89%764$52,535$153,700$244 larger
Valdosta, GA 31606 88%405$50,303$206,400$173 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Monroe, TN 38573 88%238$49,583$182,100$222 6 min longer commute
Pangburn, AR 72121 88%611$44,221$175,900$205 larger · younger residents
Richmondville, NY 12149 87%551$50,608$169,500$219 6 min longer commute
Broxton, GA 31519 87%344$36,834$138,400— cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Alapaha, GA 31622 87%367$51,522$104,500— cheaper homes ($72K less)
Boston, GA 31626 87%419$52,026$200,000$184 larger · more renters
Ider, AL 35981 87%287$45,556$152,200— 6 min longer commute
Oden, AR 71961 87%735$37,054$124,100$253 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Gore, OK 74435 87%794$53,580$146,500$250 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Cartwright, OK 74731 87%899$54,286$158,000$180 older residents
Watts, OK 74964 87%763$47,250$123,600$182 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Elliston, VA 24087 86%71$41,204$155,100$172 larger
Cedar Bluff, AL 35959 86%301$52,356$234,500$246 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Repton, AL 36475 86%494$45,039$116,500$190 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Mooresburg, TN 37811 86%127$52,047$163,100$246 larger
Gordonsville, TN 38563 86%283$50,313$241,300$338 pricier homes ($65K more)

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.