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 Olanta, SC 29114

Olanta: median income $56,579, home value $116,000, $86/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lilesville, NC 28091 93%72$52,917$152,900— pricier homes ($37K more)
Union Point, GA 30669 92%183$65,852$103,300$71 larger
Obion, TN 38240 92%553$53,095$115,200$120 Very close on everything we compare
Beecher City, IL 62414 92%612$58,370$157,800— pricier homes ($42K more)
Walstonburg, NC 27888 91%170$55,167$109,400$76 Very close on everything we compare
Marengo, IN 47140 91%473$65,718$118,200$108 Very close on everything we compare
South Roxana, IL 62087 91%657$60,214$88,700$102 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Cisne, IL 62823 91%571$59,310$119,100— Very close on everything we compare
Lowry City, MO 64763 91%823$54,821$151,300$75 pricier homes ($35K more)
Rush Springs, OK 73082 91%1,029$59,211$133,700$92 larger
Kenton, TN 38233 90%538$60,000$108,700$74 older residents
Lovington, IL 61937 90%626$61,295$99,700$84 older homes
Norris City, IL 62869 90%547$62,159$119,500— larger
Rich Hill, MO 64779 90%856$54,183$120,600$104 larger · more homeowners
Newkirk, OK 74647 90%985$63,145$120,100$89 larger
Sligo, PA 16255 89%497$56,058$119,300$93 older residents · older homes
Ulysses, PA 16948 89%560$46,116$153,800$98 pricier homes ($38K more)
Burnsville, MS 38833 89%483$52,917$142,300— pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents
Bardwell, KY 42023 89%551$63,229$118,100$66 Very close on everything we compare
Pleasant City, OH 43772 89%423$47,344$120,300$96 Very close on everything we compare
Leon, IA 50144 89%892$63,333$130,800$108 larger
Bluford, IL 62814 89%580$59,462$121,300— Very close on everything we compare
Ellington, MO 63638 89%661$55,257$137,500$76 older residents
Puxico, MO 63960 89%613$57,875$146,500$67 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Delcambre, LA 70528 89%759$49,676$125,700$59 larger

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.