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 Mauk, GA 31058

Mauk: median income $40,655, home value $85,200, $157/sq ft, 43-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lane, SC 29564 97%271$40,000$78,000— smaller
Lamont, FL 32336 91%151$45,481$109,200$162 Very close on everything we compare
Smithdale, MS 39664 91%376$42,500$113,200$189 pricier homes ($28K more)
Salley, SC 29137 89%194$41,116$107,200$134 5 min shorter commute
Walton, WV 25286 87%454$45,250$106,500— more single-family homes
Pomona Park, FL 32181 86%266$47,101$100,400$161 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Frierson, LA 71027 85%542$42,781$104,300$198 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Drakes Branch, VA 23937 84%452$42,818$85,000$177 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Danese, WV 25831 84%424$46,800$109,500$143 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Rembert, SC 29128 84%251$43,571$100,200$151 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Hurtsboro, AL 36860 84%61$43,451$63,400$134 Very close on everything we compare
Elkhorn City, KY 41522 84%350$37,331$90,600$104 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Graysville, TN 37338 83%208$49,592$121,800$156 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Fort Blackmore, VA 24250 81%310$43,465$78,900— smaller · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Carbon Hill, AL 35549 81%206$47,818$67,400$118 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Oakland, MS 38948 81%335$29,400$86,200$170 6 min shorter commute
Bradford, AR 72020 80%455$49,231$95,300— larger · more single-family homes
Ruffin, SC 29475 79%211$39,769$95,000$225 younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Marion Junction, AL 36759 79%167$30,441$61,200— smaller
Briceville, TN 37710 79%253$28,362$90,600$174 smaller
Newton, TX 75966 79%562$40,087$102,900$107 larger · younger residents
Albertson, NC 28508 78%417$34,567$48,200— cheaper homes ($37K less)
Gaylesville, AL 35973 78%144$44,608$69,400$158 younger residents · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Hornbeak, TN 38232 78%386$46,272$103,200$148 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Grayson, LA 71435 78%455$52,787$122,400$113 pricier homes ($37K 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.