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 Plains, GA 31780

Plains: median income $39,290, home value $158,600, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stantonville, TN 38379 92%320$41,136$170,800$250 Very close on everything we compare
Red Level, AL 36474 89%139$44,141$113,100$114 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Elk Park, NC 28622 88%317$44,028$169,900$199 Very close on everything we compare
Burnside, KY 42519 88%339$41,964$136,200$113 larger · newer homes
Groveton, NH 03582 87%1,110$46,250$122,300$164 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Exeter, MO 65647 87%635$46,146$151,700$133 larger
Riegelwood, NC 28456 86%387$49,670$167,900$170 larger
Alger, OH 45812 86%600$44,045$137,100$105 younger residents
Port Leyden, NY 13433 85%937$50,806$130,900$142 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Mount Upton, NY 13809 85%869$52,167$206,900— pricier homes ($48K more)
Cana, VA 24317 85%379$38,412$118,300$141 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Lansing, NC 28643 85%349$44,509$149,500$299 larger · more single-family homes
Sulligent, AL 35586 85%253$38,286$115,300$89 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
White Plains, KY 42464 85%394$45,893$104,700— cheaper homes ($54K less)
Timbo, AR 72680 85%526$43,668$144,100$138 smaller
Copan, OK 74022 85%739$46,538$114,700$146 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Welling, OK 74471 85%658$45,948$156,700$178 newer homes
Arco, ID 83213 85%1,759$43,472$163,800$147 more renters
Ulysses, PA 16948 84%770$46,116$153,800$98 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Monroeton, PA 18832 84%797$52,961$152,400$116 Very close on everything we compare
Rowesville, SC 29133 84%225$36,987$136,400— younger residents · more renters
Repton, AL 36475 84%171$45,039$116,500$190 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents · newer homes
Butler, AL 36904 84%225$44,250$143,900— larger
Cannelton, IN 47520 84%430$50,882$162,200$99 larger · more renters
Oden, AR 71961 84%574$37,054$124,100$253 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · newer homes

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.