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 Lane, SC 29564

Lane: median income $40,000, home value $78,000, 44-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mauk, GA 31058 97%271$40,655$85,200$157 larger
Hurtsboro, AL 36860 89%332$43,451$63,400$134 Very close on everything we compare
Talbotton, GA 31827 87%277$34,946$75,500$86 older residents
Smithdale, MS 39664 87%647$42,500$113,200$189 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Fort Blackmore, VA 24250 85%272$43,465$78,900— more single-family homes
Walton, WV 25286 84%362$45,250$106,500— pricier homes ($29K more) · more single-family homes
Lamont, FL 32336 84%316$45,481$109,200$162 pricier homes ($31K more)
Danese, WV 25831 83%313$46,800$109,500$143 pricier homes ($32K more) · younger residents
Salley, SC 29137 83%84$41,116$107,200$134 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Marion Junction, AL 36759 83%435$30,441$61,200— Very close on everything we compare
Gloster, MS 39638 83%664$37,185$95,400$53 larger
Harts, WV 25524 81%337$40,194$89,700$74 larger · more single-family homes
Elkhorn City, KY 41522 81%299$37,331$90,600$104 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Engelhard, NC 27824 80%259$42,589$79,900$86 more single-family homes
Frierson, LA 71027 80%806$42,781$104,300$198 pricier homes ($26K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Springfield, SC 29146 79%79$34,318$79,600$93 10 min shorter commute
Drakes Branch, VA 23937 78%250$42,818$85,000$177 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Briceville, TN 37710 78%311$28,362$90,600$174 Very close on everything we compare
Albertson, NC 28508 77%160$34,567$48,200— cheaper homes ($30K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Norwood, GA 30821 77%165$53,545$59,800$78 older homes
Pickens, MS 39146 77%585$31,436$61,500— larger · more single-family homes
Orrum, NC 28369 76%81$40,000$77,800$77 younger residents · 10 min shorter commute
Smoaks, SC 29481 76%61$46,719$88,900— younger residents
Oakland, MS 38948 76%576$29,400$86,200$170 7 min shorter commute
Vance, SC 29163 75%35$33,971$68,000$256 10 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.