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 Winter Haven, FL 33884

Winter Haven: median income $70,443, home value $286,500, $165/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Granbury, TX 76048 95%1,008$70,346$246,000$177 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Mebane, NC 27302 94%578$79,819$312,400$186 pricier homes ($26K more)
Easley, SC 29642 94%474$78,221$282,200$169 Very close on everything we compare
Piedmont, SC 29673 94%468$71,444$253,800$157 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Cleveland, GA 30528 94%472$70,873$274,000$215 smaller
Foley, AL 36535 93%399$66,714$282,700$183 Very close on everything we compare
Fayetteville, NC 28312 92%512$67,754$218,000$154 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Bessemer, AL 35022 92%485$81,846$258,900$156 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Maryville, TN 37801 92%551$73,508$320,100$225 pricier homes ($34K more)
Lockhart, TX 78644 92%976$74,709$279,800$166 smaller · younger residents
Kernersville, NC 27284 91%570$82,461$283,600$174 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Wilson, NC 27896 91%580$75,696$242,700$170 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Elizabeth City, NC 27909 91%656$66,732$234,600$188 cheaper homes ($52K less) · younger residents
Camden, SC 29020 91%439$64,648$240,100$153 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · older homes
York, SC 29745 91%485$79,117$280,800$173 Very close on everything we compare
Carrollton, GA 30116 91%437$77,030$246,500$165 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Shelbyville, KY 40065 91%736$77,869$280,500$175 younger residents
Pacific, MO 63069 91%895$78,185$292,100$187 smaller
Marble Falls, TX 78654 91%1,015$74,130$358,400$207 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller
Henrico, VA 23231 90%701$76,505$297,800$224 Very close on everything we compare
Sanford, NC 27332 90%537$78,447$255,900$172 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents
Mount Holly, NC 28120 90%508$78,231$321,500$210 pricier homes ($35K more)
Salisbury, NC 28146 90%533$69,279$247,700$189 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Travelers Rest, SC 29690 90%487$69,956$287,000$227 Very close on everything we compare
Newnan, GA 30263 90%417$78,992$312,600$190 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 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.