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 Preston, GA 31824

Preston: median income $31,742, home value $87,100, $108/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gibsland, LA 71028 90%499$36,394$93,600— more single-family homes
Ola, AR 72853 90%539$35,262$98,100$108 larger
Krotz Springs, LA 70750 88%438$38,466$96,100$133 Very close on everything we compare
Bear Creek, AL 35543 85%234$29,196$97,200$82 younger residents
Henry, TN 38231 85%361$37,188$88,100$120 larger · younger residents
Starks, LA 70661 85%552$24,917$83,700$138 larger · older residents
Springfield, SC 29146 84%217$34,318$79,600$93 9 min longer commute
Wallins Creek, KY 40873 84%334$33,359$88,900$102 larger · more single-family homes
Calhoun Falls, SC 29628 83%180$39,444$91,100$128 larger
Rockholds, KY 40759 83%329$34,909$97,300$137 larger
Worthville, KY 41098 83%453$33,125$86,300$105 older residents
Martin, KY 41649 83%393$36,023$67,100— larger · older residents
Tyler, AL 36785 82%136$29,619$104,700— younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Salt Rock, WV 25559 81%451$34,727$131,300$181 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Garysburg, NC 27831 81%501$36,136$87,300— larger · older residents
Ragland, AL 35131 81%148$43,738$96,800$108 larger
Anguilla, MS 38721 81%371$31,385$81,300— younger residents
Jenkins, KY 41537 81%370$35,673$76,200$78 larger · more single-family homes
Logansport, LA 71049 81%551$37,455$79,000$66 larger
Hickory Flat, MS 38633 80%320$33,029$106,200$104 larger · younger residents · more renters
Shelbiana, KY 41562 80%387$40,104$96,700— older residents · more single-family homes
Harold, KY 41635 80%393$41,292$78,300$104 larger · younger residents
Spearsville, LA 71277 80%472$26,686$80,200$68 Very close on everything we compare
Clayton, OK 74536 80%649$39,750$118,100$145 pricier homes ($31K more) · more single-family homes
Matewan, WV 25678 79%406$36,486$96,300$60 older residents

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.