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 Lake Toxaway, NC 28747

Lake Toxaway: median income $66,000, home value $294,600, $368/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jacksons Gap, AL 36861 90%229$65,577$273,500$414 Very close on everything we compare
Moore, ID 83255 89%1,722$70,714$283,200$340 smaller
Otis, OR 97368 89%2,246$61,821$325,700$294 pricier homes ($31K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Bath, NH 03740 88%852$67,813$234,400$253 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Casco, ME 04015 88%896$69,313$355,500$316 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Bryant Pond, ME 04219 88%911$62,361$215,900$296 cheaper homes ($79K less)
West Enfield, ME 04493 87%1,028$61,563$183,700$323 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Lakemont, GA 30552 87%38$66,316$354,700$390 pricier homes ($60K more) · older residents
Levering, MI 49755 87%732$65,789$188,900$339 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Clayton, WI 54004 87%853$68,182$240,600$345 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Effingham, NH 03882 86%867$76,607$322,700$294 pricier homes ($28K more) · 7 min longer commute
Bethel, ME 04217 86%906$61,125$329,700$274 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Morrill, ME 04952 86%970$67,763$215,700$231 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Freehold, NY 12431 86%690$80,694$262,500$265 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Fair Play, SC 29643 86%44$80,517$235,900$320 cheaper homes ($59K less) · newer homes
Shepherd, MT 59079 86%1,520$68,047$376,300$248 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
Overgaard, AZ 85933 86%1,564$65,735$320,100$308 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Whitefield, ME 04353 85%943$73,875$242,300$247 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 6 min longer commute
Searsmont, ME 04973 85%965$87,000$284,000$292 Very close on everything we compare
Worton, MD 21678 85%472$71,023$319,000$266 more single-family homes
Beulah, MI 49617 85%675$74,207$304,000$352 larger · more single-family homes
Turtle Lake, WI 54889 85%860$77,143$257,100$288 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more renters
West Wareham, MA 02576 84%800$63,021$387,200$345 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Penobscot, ME 04476 84%989$63,194$296,400$280 smaller
Porter Corners, NY 12859 84%735$71,250$210,200$275 cheaper homes ($84K 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.