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 Waynesville, NC 28786

Waynesville: median income $59,371, home value $297,800, $245/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Honesdale, PA 18431 91%592$56,779$230,200$207 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Kerrville, TX 78028 91%1,010$66,991$323,200$210 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Kingsport, TN 37664 90%75$63,653$240,000$180 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Canon City, CO 81212 90%1,241$64,235$329,000$226 pricier homes ($31K more)
Colville, WA 99114 90%1,981$62,711$301,600$225 smaller
Staunton, VA 24401 89%284$66,300$278,600$220 larger · younger residents
Abingdon, VA 24210 88%98$62,734$216,000$176 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Port Saint Lucie, FL 34952 88%589$61,628$282,200$223 larger · newer homes
South Haven, MI 49090 88%508$68,920$295,000$293 smaller · older residents
Ludington, MI 49431 88%613$66,336$237,700$203 cheaper homes ($60K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Delavan, WI 53115 88%577$72,304$251,900$234 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Park Rapids, MN 56470 88%1,006$67,500$291,100$192 smaller
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 88%1,026$70,037$314,700$217 6 min shorter commute
Oakland, MD 21550 87%338$64,921$233,300$196 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Waynesboro, VA 22980 87%288$63,943$268,100$198 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Vero Beach, FL 32962 87%568$66,664$270,600$178 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 87%685$70,212$297,300$257 8 min shorter commute
Hayward, WI 54843 87%841$60,619$243,400$261 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Grand Rapids, MN 55744 87%975$70,644$241,200$176 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Montrose, CO 81401 87%1,384$71,286$374,300$280 pricier homes ($77K more) · newer homes
Port Angeles, WA 98362 87%2,226$70,123$403,300$298 pricier homes ($106K more)
Agawam, MA 01001 86%719$75,342$295,700$249 Very close on everything we compare
Augusta, ME 04330 86%927$54,775$217,300$211 cheaper homes ($81K less) · younger residents
Bellefonte, PA 16823 86%468$76,245$272,800$188 cheaper homes ($25K less) · younger residents
Titusville, FL 32780 86%496$67,690$286,800$193 larger · younger residents

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.