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 Lake Butler, FL 32054

Lake Butler: median income $65,870, home value $185,100, $192/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Quinlan, TX 75474 92%834$64,103$191,400$190 Very close on everything we compare
Pembroke, GA 31321 91%156$68,472$165,500$181 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Kemp, TX 75143 91%832$67,897$182,900$164 Very close on everything we compare
Bonneau, SC 29431 90%270$58,571$220,600$218 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · older residents
Ellabell, GA 31308 90%156$73,061$176,200$189 6 min shorter commute
Tucson, AZ 85735 89%1,715$74,158$212,000$221 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Middlesex, NC 27557 87%466$71,541$199,900$188 more single-family homes
Pelion, SC 29123 87%269$59,317$151,100$167 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Cottageville, SC 29435 87%233$58,813$168,500$215 smaller
Decatur, TN 37322 87%406$57,929$171,300$202 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Andrews, SC 29510 86%290$55,058$117,700$170 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Jemison, AL 35085 86%328$70,862$143,500$140 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Ferris, TX 75125 86%861$79,545$231,800$167 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Splendora, TX 77372 86%766$79,085$230,700$154 pricier homes ($46K more) · more single-family homes
Kountze, TX 77625 86%713$70,517$145,300$170 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Danielsville, GA 30633 85%293$61,901$214,200$182 pricier homes ($29K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Folkston, GA 31537 85%63$64,461$157,100$170 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Berry, AL 35546 85%399$69,531$167,600$197 smaller
Lyles, TN 37098 85%495$63,371$241,600$206 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Tickfaw, LA 70466 85%485$65,807$166,900$147 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Conroe, TX 77306 85%771$76,257$174,100$135 younger residents
Von Ormy, TX 78073 85%978$69,635$158,100$136 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Starr, SC 29684 84%304$58,889$188,100$164 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Independence, LA 70443 84%488$57,464$163,900$157 Very close on everything we compare
Livingston, LA 70754 84%501$56,011$169,700$160 8 min shorter commute

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.