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 Union Grove, NC 28689

Union Grove: median income $70,565, home value $157,100, $244/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shawsville, VA 24162 91%84$73,348$161,200$202 Very close on everything we compare
Cerulean, KY 42215 91%381$83,098$201,300— pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Saint John, ND 58369 91%1,304$68,235$135,000— smaller
Duncan, AZ 85534 91%1,622$76,250$167,800— Very close on everything we compare
Dresden, OH 43821 90%288$65,427$179,400$210 larger
Crawfordsville, AR 72327 90%533$82,750$119,300— cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Garrison, TX 75946 90%833$58,177$151,800— larger
Kenduskeag, ME 04450 89%877$79,792$177,900$294 smaller
Alcolu, SC 29001 89%162$65,250$156,400$297 younger residents
Afton, TN 37616 89%104$67,662$208,900$196 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Lyndon Station, WI 53944 89%711$72,614$201,700$216 pricier homes ($45K more)
Toomsuba, MS 39364 88%500$65,294$165,900— 8 min longer commute
Manitou, KY 42436 88%381$70,694$212,500$172 pricier homes ($55K more)
Palatine Bridge, NY 13428 87%583$76,295$180,500$194 Very close on everything we compare
Copenhagen, NY 13626 87%608$64,495$179,300$158 Very close on everything we compare
Grantsville, MD 21536 87%268$64,205$201,300$165 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Plainville, GA 30733 87%259$57,569$168,700$188 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, TN 37853 87%171$69,075$221,500$284 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Gore Springs, MS 38929 87%517$68,202$104,400$204 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Crofton, KY 42217 87%372$65,357$162,000$184 larger
New Lisbon, WI 53950 87%730$72,768$196,700$190 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Texico, IL 62889 87%468$70,364$143,800— smaller · 5 min longer commute
Royal, AR 71968 87%706$75,592$215,000$189 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Barnsdall, OK 74002 87%848$66,027$125,000$203 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Porter Corners, NY 12859 86%618$71,250$210,200$275 pricier homes ($53K more) · 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.