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.

Reset

Towns most like Cottageville, SC 29435

Cottageville: median income $58,813, home value $168,500, $215/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
O Brien, FL 32071 93%248$57,261$164,900$229 Very close on everything we compare
Lawtey, FL 32058 91%223$65,641$190,900$162 Very close on everything we compare
Luttrell, TN 37779 90%291$51,357$162,900$185 more single-family homes
Corapeake, NC 27926 89%330$57,333$231,300$217 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller
Gates, NC 27937 88%323$70,086$160,000$195 more single-family homes
Youngstown, FL 32466 88%348$60,337$179,600$186 8 min shorter commute
Bell, FL 32619 88%261$60,795$175,200$176 7 min shorter commute
Verbena, AL 36091 88%350$61,214$115,100$165 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Beechgrove, TN 37018 88%376$63,091$196,700$187 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Branford, FL 32008 87%253$59,681$168,800$270 6 min shorter commute
Lake Butler, FL 32054 87%233$65,870$185,100$192 larger
Bronson, FL 32621 87%273$56,630$142,700$204 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Fountain, FL 32438 85%338$50,000$153,700— more apartments and townhomes
Ohatchee, AL 36271 85%325$68,250$135,900$187 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more single-family homes
Macomb, OK 74852 85%958$59,821$147,500— smaller · older homes
Wellston, OK 74881 85%963$60,923$146,000$146 more single-family homes
Ellabell, GA 31308 84%83$73,061$176,200$189 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Berry, AL 35546 84%415$69,531$167,600$197 younger residents
Speedwell, TN 37870 84%308$55,516$126,400$205 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Paisley, FL 32767 83%280$71,714$182,900$189 8 min longer commute
Sanders, KY 41083 83%467$53,088$190,300— smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Murchison, TX 75778 83%890$57,589$154,900$204 more renters · more single-family homes
Tucson, AZ 85735 83%1,793$74,158$212,000$221 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Mayer, AZ 86333 83%1,815$55,602$229,500$241 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · older residents
Ponce De Leon, FL 32455 82%357$50,952$109,800$205 cheaper homes ($59K less) · more renters

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.