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 Wales, FL 33859

Lake Wales: median income $57,760, home value $215,300, $167/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shallotte, NC 28470 93%462$65,030$276,300$177 pricier homes ($61K more)
Chandler, TX 75758 93%885$57,859$201,200$172 Very close on everything we compare
Hollister, MO 65672 90%907$59,737$176,700$196 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Grove, OK 74344 90%974$58,125$221,400$182 Very close on everything we compare
Aransas Pass, TX 78336 89%948$58,420$214,200$183 Very close on everything we compare
Ayden, NC 28513 88%579$57,285$161,600$150 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 88%1,180$66,667$227,000$184 older homes
Granbury, TX 76048 88%1,014$70,346$246,000$177 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Gray Court, SC 29645 87%465$59,842$173,000$140 cheaper homes ($42K less)
New Tazewell, TN 37825 87%602$49,625$165,400$148 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Reeds Spring, MO 65737 87%915$63,811$256,900$198 pricier homes ($42K more) · more single-family homes
Pearl River, LA 70452 87%522$62,917$233,400$159 more single-family homes
Onalaska, TX 77360 87%837$60,402$163,700$159 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Benson, AZ 85602 87%1,735$53,008$203,200$164 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Aztec, NM 87410 87%1,653$55,189$193,200$196 younger residents
Madison, NC 27025 86%595$56,682$194,700$184 more single-family homes
Manning, SC 29102 86%405$47,441$159,900$157 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Rainbow City, AL 35906 86%495$56,420$220,900$155 younger residents · more single-family homes
Opelika, AL 36804 86%392$61,880$218,000$169 larger · younger residents
Mabank, TX 75156 86%918$60,867$218,200$189 Very close on everything we compare
Hondo, TX 78861 86%1,066$64,917$223,200$173 younger residents
Abingdon, VA 24210 85%609$62,734$216,000$176 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Milton, WV 25541 85%729$62,782$179,700$146 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more single-family homes
Loris, SC 29569 85%456$46,840$200,300$177 larger
Comer, GA 30629 85%438$55,259$189,700$204 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · younger 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.