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 Ellenwood, GA 30294

Ellenwood: median income $79,762, home value $260,200, $130/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Slidell, LA 70461 93%394$89,003$273,500$142 Very close on everything we compare
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 92%291$84,145$337,900$186 pricier homes ($78K more)
Covington, LA 70435 92%400$80,926$282,300$172 smaller
Fresno, TX 77545 91%715$94,474$261,500$133 smaller
Easley, SC 29642 90%127$78,221$282,200$169 Very close on everything we compare
Crestview, FL 32539 90%234$74,369$286,200$178 pricier homes ($26K more)
Milton, FL 32571 90%264$87,617$306,700$179 pricier homes ($47K more)
Bessemer, AL 35022 90%155$81,846$258,900$156 smaller
Semmes, AL 36575 89%305$75,884$205,500$144 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Imperial, MO 63052 89%477$92,922$285,400$171 pricier homes ($25K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Wendell, NC 27591 88%367$85,224$312,400$192 pricier homes ($52K more)
Zebulon, NC 27597 88%372$84,625$312,500$183 pricier homes ($52K more)
Elgin, SC 29045 88%203$87,366$266,400$148 6 min shorter commute
Inman, SC 29349 88%162$76,168$259,400$172 Very close on everything we compare
Milton, FL 32583 88%265$85,440$245,400$176 Very close on everything we compare
Calera, AL 35040 88%146$84,554$232,300$160 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · younger residents
Brandon, MS 39042 88%341$88,597$264,200$166 5 min shorter commute
Festus, MO 63028 88%466$79,737$240,000$173 Very close on everything we compare
Ponchatoula, LA 70454 88%422$71,611$233,700$148 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Cabot, AR 72023 88%451$76,931$217,200$148 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77041 88%712$77,083$285,200$157 pricier homes ($25K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Willis, TX 77318 88%694$92,415$316,900$169 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Cantonment, FL 32533 87%273$86,087$295,900$175 pricier homes ($36K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Ocala, FL 34473 87%342$72,366$265,700$167 smaller
Alabaster, AL 35007 87%147$88,505$245,500$158 6 min shorter commute

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.