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 Trafford, AL 35172

Trafford: median income $39,844, home value $126,300, $134/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sandy Hook, KY 41171 94%362$42,609$110,100$143 larger
Houston, AR 72070 94%349$41,713$99,000$128 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Patterson, GA 31557 93%317$47,083$109,300$132 Very close on everything we compare
Summer Shade, KY 42166 92%220$49,783$116,200$145 Very close on everything we compare
Strunk, KY 42649 92%233$38,382$98,200$111 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Scotts Hill, TN 38374 90%144$38,389$116,000$137 more renters
Lamar, SC 29069 89%382$48,393$132,300$134 larger
Duck Hill, MS 38925 89%168$41,217$123,400— older residents
Whitley City, KY 42653 89%238$42,656$109,200$158 larger · 6 min longer commute
Humansville, MO 65674 89%471$47,500$137,000$143 more renters
Evening Shade, AR 72532 89%316$38,750$113,100$134 smaller
Pound, VA 24279 88%325$43,602$97,300$110 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Gallipolis Ferry, WV 25515 88%427$46,904$152,300$92 pricier homes ($26K more)
Pelham, NC 27311 88%450$39,044$128,200$141 more renters
Bowman, SC 29018 88%351$49,167$108,000$162 Very close on everything we compare
Ruby, SC 29741 88%379$45,000$117,000$152 smaller
Grand Ridge, FL 32442 88%237$45,500$114,200$168 Very close on everything we compare
Robbins, TN 37852 88%213$36,639$118,200$181 Very close on everything we compare
Friendship, TN 38034 88%202$47,241$132,400$107 Very close on everything we compare
Courtland, MS 38620 88%186$45,539$105,800$125 6 min shorter commute
Walnut, MS 38683 88%146$39,107$116,100$131 6 min shorter commute
Liberty, MS 39645 88%296$40,231$114,800$100 older residents
Mount Olivet, KY 41064 88%358$51,094$158,300$118 pricier homes ($32K more)
Virgie, KY 41572 88%335$40,028$106,100$125 older residents
Raymondville, MO 65555 88%375$43,631$118,300$103 smaller

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.