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 Dorchester, SC 29437

Dorchester: median income $61,821, home value $172,900, $171/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Macomb, OK 74852 88%960$59,821$147,500— cheaper homes ($25K less)
Alcalde, NM 87511 88%1,469$70,346$237,900— pricier homes ($65K more)
O Brien, FL 32071 87%260$57,261$164,900$229 larger · 7 min longer commute
Youngstown, FL 32466 87%357$60,337$179,600$186 larger
Sanders, KY 41083 87%460$53,088$190,300— Very close on everything we compare
Bell, FL 32619 86%273$60,795$175,200$176 larger
Lawtey, FL 32058 85%235$65,641$190,900$162 larger
Baileyton, AL 35019 84%366$62,083$131,800$169 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more single-family homes
Shelbyville, TX 75973 84%797$67,023$130,800— cheaper homes ($42K less)
Corinth, ME 04427 83%1,020$64,229$135,800$211 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Comer, GA 30629 83%170$55,259$189,700$204 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Box Springs, GA 31801 83%247$53,799$201,700$121 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Branford, FL 32008 83%265$59,681$168,800$270 larger
Verbena, AL 36091 83%355$61,214$115,100$165 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Bronston, KY 42518 83%357$54,103$156,000$194 older homes
Grand Cane, LA 71032 83%782$60,972$175,700$192 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Canaan, ME 04924 82%990$57,781$159,900$243 more single-family homes
Bronson, FL 32621 82%285$56,630$142,700$204 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Luttrell, TN 37779 82%286$51,357$162,900$185 larger · more single-family homes
Collins, MO 64738 82%814$61,493$211,700$157 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Rose Bud, AR 72137 82%683$52,612$164,800$148 more single-family homes
Porum, OK 74455 82%862$51,786$115,400$224 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Somerville, TX 77879 82%965$65,490$153,900$151 larger · older residents
Westville, FL 32464 81%358$57,524$95,900$150 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Ohatchee, AL 36271 81%327$68,250$135,900$187 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more single-family homes

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.