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 Hortense, GA 31543

Hortense: median income $50,181, home value $81,900, $72/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Annville, KY 40402 86%429$56,250$73,600$96 smaller · younger residents
Pitkin, LA 70656 86%651$61,693$73,700$106 Very close on everything we compare
Norway, SC 29113 85%156$48,857$84,200— smaller · older homes
Sallis, MS 39160 85%470$58,933$59,400— smaller
Silver Creek, MS 39663 84%475$46,484$84,500$58 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
North, SC 29112 83%167$50,195$91,700$109 more renters
Magnolia, MS 39652 83%504$42,966$84,400$105 Very close on everything we compare
Zwolle, LA 71486 83%690$45,918$117,100— pricier homes ($35K more) · more renters
Oakman, AL 35579 82%355$46,968$110,800$86 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Bradford, AR 72020 82%620$49,231$95,300— smaller · more renters · more single-family homes
Islandton, SC 29929 81%129$58,267$104,500— smaller · younger residents
Louin, MS 39338 81%430$50,085$59,600$110 more single-family homes
Colfax, LA 71417 81%631$50,072$114,600$62 pricier homes ($33K more) · more renters
Estill, SC 29918 80%107$42,665$90,200$54 more renters
Midway, AL 36053 80%217$49,357$104,200— smaller
Lena, LA 71447 80%641$43,547$67,400— smaller · younger residents
Zavalla, TX 75980 80%734$45,439$94,500— smaller · older residents · more single-family homes
Ramer, AL 36069 79%257$53,750$79,000$80 smaller · older residents · more renters
Sweet Water, AL 36782 79%354$51,429$66,200— smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Merryville, LA 70653 79%688$69,318$111,800$57 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Nauvoo, AL 35578 78%366$55,754$106,800$67 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes · older homes
Hollister, NC 27844 77%412$39,076$105,200— more renters
Orrum, NC 28369 77%275$40,000$77,800$77 smaller · more renters
Gadsden, SC 29052 77%188$52,775$83,900— smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Empire, AL 35063 77%341$61,138$110,500$127 pricier homes ($29K more)

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.