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 Cornelia, GA 30531

Cornelia: median income $53,762, home value $227,300, $169/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rainbow City, AL 35906 98%151$56,420$220,900$155 Very close on everything we compare
Siler City, NC 27344 95%246$57,320$184,200$186 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Dayton, TN 37321 95%107$54,684$192,700$179 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Jefferson City, TN 37760 94%110$66,190$238,200$184 Very close on everything we compare
Seneca, SC 29678 93%36$52,550$225,500$178 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Athens, AL 35611 93%196$57,377$225,600$158 larger
Canton, MS 39046 93%394$49,132$216,800$177 larger
Mount Sterling, KY 40353 93%245$57,329$184,000$162 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Bolivar, MO 65613 93%591$59,172$212,900$168 Very close on everything we compare
Wilkesboro, NC 28697 92%175$52,988$218,500$171 Very close on everything we compare
Ocala, FL 34479 92%374$54,283$207,400$165 Very close on everything we compare
Smithville, TN 37166 92%160$52,797$224,300$209 Very close on everything we compare
Pulaski, TN 38478 92%204$61,295$226,200$176 larger
Hammond, LA 70403 92%490$50,976$212,400$148 larger
Bristow, OK 74010 92%730$56,037$188,500$146 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Petersburg, VA 23805 91%391$60,807$233,400$173 larger
Graham, NC 27253 91%257$62,774$235,800$176 larger
Edenton, NC 27932 91%405$53,490$233,400$200 older residents
Dunn, NC 28334 91%285$53,036$176,300$165 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Gaffney, SC 29341 91%112$58,029$188,900$167 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Belleview, FL 34420 91%388$60,680$222,400$159 larger
Pell City, AL 35125 91%172$59,891$183,100$169 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Decherd, TN 37324 91%151$50,417$223,200$196 smaller
Madisonville, TN 37354 91%81$54,550$231,800$213 Very close on everything we compare
Sweetwater, TN 37874 91%91$53,605$191,300$192 cheaper homes ($36K less)

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.