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 Mc Rae Helena, GA 31037

Mc Rae Helena: median income $55,794, home value $58,900, $78/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oakwood, VA 24631 90%359$43,980$66,800$77 smaller
Sandoval, IL 62882 90%571$55,582$89,300$85 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Friendship, NY 14739 83%747$57,794$78,600$86 Very close on everything we compare
Hinsdale, NY 14743 83%742$57,244$94,500$69 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Percy, IL 62272 83%558$50,938$83,500$79 smaller
Oberlin, LA 70655 83%589$50,893$90,600— pricier homes ($32K more) · younger residents
Van Horn, TX 79855 83%1,290$58,910$79,300— smaller
Blue Mountain, MS 38610 82%395$51,675$92,900$66 pricier homes ($34K more) · more single-family homes
Evarts, KY 40828 82%330$41,354$62,200$86 Very close on everything we compare
Sayre, OK 73662 82%986$54,775$99,900$59 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Hamlin, WV 25523 81%432$66,563$86,600$95 pricier homes ($28K more)
Cowen, WV 26206 81%458$44,042$78,400$76 7 min longer commute
Brilliant, AL 35548 81%311$43,958$68,800$72 smaller · older residents
Neon, KY 41840 81%354$58,428$55,100— smaller · 5 min longer commute
Oaktown, IN 47561 81%532$45,911$77,500$71 smaller · older residents
Shawneetown, IL 62984 81%491$50,288$87,800$78 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Norfolk, NY 13667 80%980$59,849$99,700$86 pricier homes ($41K more)
Pineville, WV 24874 80%389$54,596$96,600— pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Halifax, NC 27839 80%423$48,094$94,100$91 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents
Haleyville, AL 35565 80%309$45,598$85,100$103 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Houlka, MS 38850 80%381$52,807$84,700— pricier homes ($26K more) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Smackover, AR 71762 80%578$50,577$106,400$67 pricier homes ($48K more)
Fort Hancock, TX 79839 80%1,347$47,950$55,000— smaller · 9 min longer commute
Providence, KY 42450 79%459$54,710$77,300$83 10 min longer commute
Prescott, AR 71857 79%618$53,125$86,300$52 pricier homes ($27K more) · 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.