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 Saint Stephen, SC 29479

Saint Stephen: median income $51,397, home value $127,700, $135/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Zwolle, LA 71486 95%809$45,918$117,100— Very close on everything we compare
Vanceboro, NC 28586 94%208$57,041$112,300$139 Very close on everything we compare
Gordo, AL 35466 93%460$53,083$132,400$129 Very close on everything we compare
Jennings, FL 32053 92%269$44,519$103,000$152 smaller
Wewahitchka, FL 32465 92%383$54,538$160,200$140 pricier homes ($33K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Washington, LA 70589 92%732$49,650$129,300$146 smaller
Bowman, GA 30624 91%188$51,988$101,100$158 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Empire, AL 35063 91%410$61,138$110,500$127 smaller
Brownsville, KY 42210 91%448$48,333$141,800$134 Very close on everything we compare
Blythe, GA 30805 90%132$52,676$121,600$163 smaller
Altha, FL 32421 90%364$48,719$113,200$154 Very close on everything we compare
Ponce De Leon, FL 32455 90%397$50,952$109,800$205 Very close on everything we compare
Vernon, FL 32462 90%390$50,662$179,200$120 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Garland, NC 28441 89%132$51,250$106,800$150 smaller
Pink Hill, NC 28572 89%174$55,660$137,100$179 Very close on everything we compare
Jasper, FL 32052 89%264$52,103$115,800$121 7 min shorter commute
Interlachen, FL 32148 89%281$45,420$112,300$175 larger
Altoona, AL 35952 89%365$48,361$117,500$124 more single-family homes
Grover, NC 28073 88%155$52,557$157,900$124 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents
Beulaville, NC 28518 88%165$54,127$159,000$170 pricier homes ($31K more)
Jeffersonville, KY 40337 88%388$54,128$152,700$135 pricier homes ($25K more) · younger residents
Whitesburg, KY 41858 88%310$45,933$90,400$110 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Grayson, LA 71435 88%717$52,787$122,400$113 smaller · older residents
Redfield, AR 72132 88%706$56,071$118,500$135 smaller · younger residents
Buffalo, TX 75831 88%946$51,935$117,500— 7 min shorter commute

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.