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 Sylvania, AL 35988

Sylvania: median income $53,684, home value $158,500, $195/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Steens, MS 39766 93%161$65,707$162,700— Very close on everything we compare
Guthrie, KY 42234 93%167$58,259$165,300$173 Very close on everything we compare
Albright, WV 26519 92%485$54,328$128,500$178 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Alamo, TN 38001 92%210$53,438$159,200$157 larger
Park City, KY 42160 92%176$49,364$157,000$155 Very close on everything we compare
Manila, AR 72442 92%263$56,221$166,300$161 larger
Teachey, NC 28464 91%442$60,130$173,800$195 Very close on everything we compare
Harrogate, TN 37752 91%186$60,028$193,600$198 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
North Lewisburg, OH 43060 91%410$62,014$170,300$178 older residents
Star, NC 27356 90%345$55,347$164,400$152 Very close on everything we compare
Portal, GA 30450 90%263$60,900$153,100$154 Very close on everything we compare
Westpoint, TN 38486 89%107$48,953$165,600$211 smaller
Linn, MO 65051 89%430$53,289$191,200$268 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Lake City, AR 72437 89%277$60,714$160,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Monette, AR 72447 89%273$59,444$115,100$159 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Marietta, OK 73448 89%648$61,071$165,200$163 larger
Holliday, TX 76366 89%739$56,034$156,700$167 more homeowners
Prospect, VA 23960 88%447$63,533$219,100$210 pricier homes ($61K more)
Cowan, TN 37318 88%45$52,125$177,100$178 older homes
Cromwell, IN 46732 88%471$58,906$174,800$166 older residents
Montreal, MO 65591 88%444$50,139$150,700$178 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, AR 72662 88%436$55,734$252,400$161 pricier homes ($94K more)
Elmore City, OK 73433 88%661$58,194$152,400$177 more homeowners
Perkins, OK 74059 88%642$51,679$201,900$158 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Coolidge, TX 76635 88%658$62,031$153,300— 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.