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 Fountain Inn, SC 29644

Fountain Inn: median income $70,301, home value $257,400, $157/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Perry, GA 31069 94%174$74,501$227,300$156 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Thomasville, GA 31757 94%280$79,593$224,500$174 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Biloxi, MS 39532 94%485$68,710$243,800$161 larger
Vine Grove, KY 40175 94%305$77,509$223,800$152 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Berea, KY 40403 94%232$61,771$200,200$172 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Batavia, OH 45103 93%324$79,793$264,200$182 larger
Lafayette, LA 70507 93%644$64,049$212,400$137 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Little Rock, AR 72210 93%581$69,453$244,300$155 Very close on everything we compare
Siloam Springs, AR 72761 93%699$76,122$236,600$177 Very close on everything we compare
Dahlonega, GA 30533 92%99$74,035$301,200$204 pricier homes ($44K more)
Forsyth, GA 31029 92%147$76,334$247,900$175 Very close on everything we compare
Panama City, FL 32404 92%366$74,708$273,500$177 larger
Ocala, FL 34480 92%384$77,557$282,700$184 pricier homes ($25K more)
Decatur, AL 35603 92%271$81,490$247,400$151 older residents
Opelika, AL 36804 92%228$61,880$218,000$169 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Smiths Station, AL 36877 92%220$78,103$224,200$172 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Union, MO 63084 92%553$75,992$226,900$190 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Marion, AR 72364 92%452$74,462$212,300$145 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Victoria, TX 77904 92%953$83,130$244,700$164 Very close on everything we compare
Seguin, TX 78155 92%984$71,039$266,700$145 larger
Las Cruces, NM 88007 92%1,421$64,892$246,100$190 Very close on everything we compare
Winston-Salem, NC 27127 91%147$61,926$219,600$164 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Graham, NC 27253 91%187$62,774$235,800$176 Very close on everything we compare
Pikeville, NC 27863 91%249$77,933$212,200$165 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Fayetteville, NC 28306 91%189$67,544$232,500$158 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.