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 Fair Play, SC 29643

Fair Play: median income $80,517, home value $235,900, $320/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Walland, TN 37886 93%98$82,009$261,700$266 pricier homes ($26K more)
Litchfield, ME 04350 92%962$84,904$243,900$264 Very close on everything we compare
Corsicana, TX 75109 92%795$88,074$258,400$244 larger
Holland, TX 76534 92%873$80,536$210,100$238 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Mc Queeney, TX 78123 92%944$97,553$238,500$383 Very close on everything we compare
Frankfort, ME 04438 91%1,020$80,000$211,300— smaller
Stockton Springs, ME 04981 91%1,020$77,560$239,000$223 Very close on everything we compare
Portersville, PA 16051 91%471$88,958$215,600$271 older homes
Efland, NC 27243 91%240$84,348$298,600$270 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Leasburg, NC 27291 90%251$89,610$269,900$302 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · younger residents
Smithfield, KY 40068 90%297$80,750$325,300$232 pricier homes ($89K more)
Bowdoin, ME 04287 89%957$91,239$292,800$251 pricier homes ($57K more)
Whitefield, ME 04353 89%978$73,875$242,300$247 older homes
Morrill, ME 04952 89%1,004$67,763$215,700$231 smaller
Searsmont, ME 04973 89%1,000$87,000$284,000$292 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Porter Corners, NY 12859 89%772$71,250$210,200$275 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Bethpage, TN 37022 89%233$79,375$287,900$269 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · younger residents
Rapid City, MI 49676 89%724$75,781$269,300$290 pricier homes ($33K more) · older homes
Carmel, ME 04419 88%1,027$82,188$256,800$231 Very close on everything we compare
Monroe, VA 24574 88%299$69,133$221,300$213 Very close on everything we compare
Casco, ME 04015 87%931$69,313$355,500$316 pricier homes ($120K more)
Poland, ME 04274 87%940$85,557$283,600$275 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Dixmont, ME 04932 87%1,018$75,952$190,700$277 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Vassalboro, ME 04989 87%986$72,300$244,300$238 larger
Freehold, NY 12431 87%726$80,694$262,500$265 pricier homes ($27K more) · older homes

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.