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 Smoaks, SC 29481

Smoaks: median income $46,719, home value $88,900, 44-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Midway, AL 36053 88%283$49,357$104,200— more single-family homes
Abbeville, GA 31001 86%165$52,917$93,000$199 larger
Fort Gay, WV 25514 85%361$53,929$57,600$158 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Zwolle, LA 71486 85%757$45,918$117,100— pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Newton, TX 75966 84%774$40,087$102,900$107 larger
Danese, WV 25831 83%336$46,800$109,500$143 older residents
Cotton Valley, LA 71018 83%731$41,638$97,300$145 8 min shorter commute
Orrum, NC 28369 82%139$40,000$77,800$77 9 min shorter commute
Pomona Park, FL 32181 82%253$47,101$100,400$161 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Greensburg, LA 70441 80%601$39,438$68,900$190 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Lenore, WV 25676 79%335$47,639$120,200— pricier homes ($31K more) · 10 min shorter commute
Hollister, NC 27844 79%273$39,076$105,200— larger · 9 min shorter commute
Lumber Bridge, NC 28357 79%159$49,116$88,600$161 larger · 11 min shorter commute
Reynolds, GA 31076 79%195$44,706$113,800$78 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Shady Dale, GA 31085 79%164$46,375$116,100$200 pricier homes ($27K more) · more single-family homes
Annville, KY 40402 79%341$56,250$73,600$96 8 min shorter commute
Germantown, KY 41044 79%422$54,406$118,600$108 pricier homes ($30K more) · more single-family homes
Florien, LA 71429 79%751$58,601$111,700$135 larger · older residents
Irondale, MO 63648 78%645$51,765$99,500$126 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Branchland, WV 25506 77%367$44,013$94,000$59 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Mauk, GA 31058 77%212$40,655$85,200$157 older residents
Milan, GA 31060 77%153$49,643$80,700— more single-family homes
Pine Hill, AL 36769 77%401$36,884$73,600$48 10 min shorter commute
Vardaman, MS 38878 77%486$42,472$75,100$56 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Chunky, MS 39323 77%476$56,944$98,800— smaller · older residents · 5 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.