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 Stone Mountain, GA 30087

Stone Mountain: median income $96,491, home value $348,000, $147/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Valparaiso, IN 46385 93%553$98,957$331,700$173 Very close on everything we compare
Fenton, MI 48430 89%621$100,193$326,400$210 Very close on everything we compare
Waterloo, IL 62298 89%457$101,155$290,200$158 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Oxford, MI 48371 88%625$111,239$370,200$196 smaller
Antioch, IL 60002 88%635$104,981$301,900$184 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Mandeville, LA 70448 88%418$95,682$340,300$185 5 min shorter commute
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 87%289$100,396$388,000$221 pricier homes ($40K more)
Apopka, FL 32712 87%385$108,734$422,700$208 pricier homes ($75K more)
Crown Point, IN 46307 87%554$107,800$324,100$182 larger
Montgomery, TX 77356 87%714$106,804$409,500$175 pricier homes ($62K more) · newer homes
Gastonia, NC 28056 86%199$90,427$315,000$180 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Valrico, FL 33596 86%424$116,465$432,300$212 pricier homes ($84K more)
Mchenry, IL 60051 86%630$100,762$278,400$205 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Rowlett, TX 75088 86%717$105,313$358,400$177 Very close on everything we compare
Arlington, TX 76016 86%756$108,885$334,500$178 9 min shorter commute
Douglassville, PA 19518 85%644$114,181$354,700$210 smaller
Hampstead, MD 21074 85%569$108,536$378,100$217 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Palmyra, VA 22963 85%431$104,259$327,900$203 smaller
Youngsville, NC 27596 85%357$95,940$377,600$192 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · newer homes
Valrico, FL 33594 85%421$96,628$346,900$206 Very close on everything we compare
Alabaster, AL 35007 85%157$88,505$245,500$158 cheaper homes ($103K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Hernando, MS 38632 85%340$93,583$322,000$167 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Alexandria, KY 41001 85%355$102,447$283,600$185 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Danville, IN 46122 85%432$99,531$304,900$165 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
New Palestine, IN 46163 85%420$113,106$347,800$176 smaller

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.