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 Wallace, SC 29596

Wallace: median income $34,682, home value $80,400, $165/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bernice, LA 71222 92%750$35,051$83,900$165 larger
Swords Creek, VA 24649 90%200$39,345$67,100— 5 min longer commute
Lawrence, MS 39336 89%571$38,750$57,000— Very close on everything we compare
Irwinton, GA 31042 88%235$36,569$83,000$124 older residents
Jeffersonville, GA 31044 87%248$35,152$98,300$111 larger
Camp Hill, AL 36850 87%362$42,000$84,200$205 Very close on everything we compare
Buckatunna, MS 39322 86%551$37,218$59,000— younger residents
Turkey, NC 28393 85%92$37,544$58,500$170 6 min longer commute
Hyden, KY 41749 85%264$34,934$80,300— Very close on everything we compare
Drakesboro, KY 42337 85%440$36,875$75,500$96 Very close on everything we compare
Krotz Springs, LA 70750 84%753$38,466$96,100$133 smaller · more renters
Gibsland, LA 71028 84%778$36,394$93,600— more renters
Boley, OK 74829 84%943$29,583$81,900— more single-family homes
Red Level, AL 36474 82%455$44,141$113,100$114 pricier homes ($33K more)
Labadieville, LA 70372 82%734$40,659$105,200$119 Very close on everything we compare
Harrison, GA 31035 81%212$41,563$78,900$106 smaller
Kennedy, AL 35574 81%475$41,818$87,300— smaller
Wallins Creek, KY 40873 81%249$33,359$88,900$102 more renters
Skidmore, TX 78389 81%1,145$37,195$86,200$118 younger residents
Repton, AL 36475 80%484$45,039$116,500$190 pricier homes ($36K more)
Virgie, KY 41572 80%238$40,028$106,100$125 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Doyline, LA 71023 80%797$46,055$88,000$155 larger · 7 min longer commute
Kermit, WV 25674 79%260$38,495$101,900— 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Orrville, AL 36767 79%459$41,429$84,500— Very close on everything we compare
Hampton, TN 37658 79%171$37,995$110,800$176 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · more renters

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.