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 Vernon, AL 35592

Vernon: median income $45,526, home value $119,900, $102/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milan, NM 87021 95%1,130$40,129$128,100— smaller
Norton, VA 24273 93%378$41,978$109,300$89 Very close on everything we compare
Sneads, FL 32460 93%279$51,497$116,400$117 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Rae Helena, GA 31055 92%323$45,885$143,100$94 Very close on everything we compare
Clintwood, VA 24228 91%395$49,116$113,000$99 Very close on everything we compare
Warrenton, NC 27589 91%590$46,730$115,300$129 larger
Bald Knob, AR 72010 91%224$48,305$120,100$120 Very close on everything we compare
Gaston, NC 27832 90%620$52,194$113,600— smaller
Halifax, NC 27839 90%621$48,094$94,100$91 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Windsor, NC 27983 90%651$44,441$106,400$115 larger
Pelham, GA 31779 90%293$47,530$112,000$91 larger · younger residents
Ahoskie, NC 27910 89%652$43,144$118,200$117 larger
Alma, GA 31510 89%362$45,958$108,000$106 larger
Jellico, TN 37762 89%297$42,392$143,000$110 smaller
Prestonsburg, KY 41653 89%403$40,542$127,800$112 larger
Coeburn, VA 24230 88%386$48,573$101,600$123 larger · younger residents
Richlands, VA 24641 88%422$35,531$107,600$96 Very close on everything we compare
Newton, GA 39870 88%277$50,938$109,600— smaller
Hagerhill, KY 41222 88%405$40,859$105,100$81 smaller
Tazewell, VA 24651 87%437$44,072$119,900$120 more single-family homes
Plymouth, NC 27962 87%660$41,774$114,500$83 larger · more single-family homes
Kingstree, SC 29556 87%478$42,365$107,900$100 larger
Johnston, SC 29832 87%362$42,500$130,600$127 more single-family homes
Wrightsville, GA 31096 87%319$46,282$91,300$75 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Quitman, GA 31643 87%336$37,043$107,900$128 larger

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.