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 Nichols, SC 29581

Nichols: median income $54,701, home value $88,500, $172/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bowman, GA 30624 96%221$51,988$101,100$158 Very close on everything we compare
Joaquin, TX 75954 94%876$56,600$91,700— Very close on everything we compare
Kenansville, NC 28349 93%90$54,139$106,900$156 Very close on everything we compare
Lumber Bridge, NC 28357 93%44$49,116$88,600$161 smaller
Vanceboro, NC 28586 93%135$57,041$112,300$139 larger
Fruitland, NM 87416 93%1,649$49,973$94,400— Very close on everything we compare
Deep Run, NC 28525 92%105$59,191$104,800$175 Very close on everything we compare
Omega, GA 31775 92%327$57,128$86,900$156 smaller
Ponce De Leon, FL 32455 92%465$50,952$109,800$205 Very close on everything we compare
Goodwater, AL 35072 92%406$51,028$98,200$182 older residents
Tenaha, TX 75974 92%887$47,292$91,300— smaller
Garland, NC 28441 90%56$51,250$106,800$150 smaller
Pink Hill, NC 28572 90%101$55,660$137,100$179 pricier homes ($49K more)
Valley Head, AL 35989 90%369$43,580$94,100$162 Very close on everything we compare
Jonesville, LA 71343 90%757$48,927$93,900$126 Very close on everything we compare
Montgomery, LA 71454 90%812$59,833$75,200$194 smaller
Fouke, AR 71837 90%848$59,286$114,500$171 pricier homes ($26K more)
Delevan, NY 14042 89%571$47,431$107,100$183 Very close on everything we compare
Alberta, VA 23821 89%195$46,336$98,500$157 smaller
Jennings, FL 32053 89%345$44,519$103,000$152 Very close on everything we compare
Union, MS 39365 89%584$57,069$99,400$156 larger · more single-family homes
Doyline, LA 71023 89%830$46,055$88,000$155 Very close on everything we compare
Buffalo, TX 75831 89%995$51,935$117,500— pricier homes ($29K more)
Timpson, TX 75975 89%896$44,297$96,900— Very close on everything we compare
Bladenboro, NC 28320 88%31$57,500$100,800$134 larger

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.