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 Ware Shoals, SC 29692

Ware Shoals: median income $47,068, home value $99,600, $125/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Maben, MS 39750 93%393$49,402$105,000— Very close on everything we compare
Jonesville, LA 71343 93%587$48,927$93,900$126 Very close on everything we compare
Belington, WV 26250 92%344$47,682$112,000$122 Very close on everything we compare
Trion, GA 30753 92%174$51,204$102,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Port Barre, LA 70577 91%623$47,072$101,600$96 Very close on everything we compare
Salina, OK 74365 91%735$51,067$120,800$139 newer homes
Mathis, TX 78368 91%1,015$46,486$95,300$137 larger · older residents
Coeburn, VA 24230 90%177$48,573$101,600$123 6 min shorter commute
Homerville, GA 31634 90%233$46,332$92,300$116 Very close on everything we compare
Sharpsburg, KY 40374 90%278$43,607$115,100$153 smaller
Coushatta, LA 71019 90%656$49,943$117,900$101 Very close on everything we compare
Honaker, VA 24260 89%183$46,250$95,300$141 older residents
Bladenboro, NC 28320 89%199$57,500$100,800$134 older residents
Notasulga, AL 36866 89%235$49,028$112,900$116 older residents
Union, MS 39365 89%412$57,069$99,400$156 Very close on everything we compare
Tompkinsville, KY 42167 89%251$48,497$114,200$131 older residents
Bloomfield, MO 63825 89%464$52,414$96,600$109 older residents
Licking, MO 65542 89%577$46,076$118,600$115 Very close on everything we compare
Richland, MO 65556 89%613$38,194$108,400$146 Very close on everything we compare
Winnsboro, LA 71295 89%567$48,211$99,700$129 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Keota, OK 74941 89%719$52,969$96,300$120 smaller
Timpson, TX 75975 89%722$44,297$96,900— smaller · newer homes
Delevan, NY 14042 88%595$47,431$107,100$183 older residents
Alberta, VA 23821 88%299$46,336$98,500$157 smaller
Pound, VA 24279 88%187$43,602$97,300$110 older residents

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.