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 Clayton, AL 36016

Clayton: median income $41,131, home value $76,700, $114/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Twin City, GA 30471 95%197$42,236$75,800$98 Very close on everything we compare
Enfield, NC 27823 93%534$34,940$89,800$106 Very close on everything we compare
Soperton, GA 30457 93%171$43,664$83,800$110 Very close on everything we compare
Whitesburg, KY 41858 93%392$45,933$90,400$110 larger
Timpson, TX 75975 93%525$44,297$96,900— Very close on everything we compare
Homerville, GA 31634 92%169$46,332$92,300$116 Very close on everything we compare
Pound, VA 24279 91%395$43,602$97,300$110 Very close on everything we compare
Millen, GA 30442 91%213$43,624$92,100$125 larger
Inez, KY 41224 91%445$38,816$92,900— Very close on everything we compare
Port Barre, LA 70577 91%394$47,072$101,600$96 Very close on everything we compare
Hamburg, AR 71646 91%381$40,823$89,700$78 Very close on everything we compare
Tenaha, TX 75974 91%516$47,292$91,300— smaller
Magnolia, MS 39652 89%301$42,966$84,400$105 larger
Columbia, LA 71418 89%391$40,785$91,500$121 younger residents
Buena Vista, GA 31803 88%62$45,189$104,900$138 pricier homes ($28K more)
Henning, TN 38041 88%357$41,042$95,500$97 Very close on everything we compare
Alberta, VA 23821 87%551$46,336$98,500$157 smaller
North, SC 29112 87%282$50,195$91,700$109 5 min longer commute
Warrenton, GA 30828 87%195$36,444$75,200$144 6 min shorter commute
Aberdeen, MS 39730 87%224$43,336$93,500$110 larger
Eubank, KY 42567 87%375$46,526$105,000$113 pricier homes ($28K more)
Richland, MO 65556 87%570$38,194$108,400$146 pricier homes ($32K more)
Fabens, TX 79838 87%1,216$43,367$95,800$130 older residents
Zuni, NM 87327 87%1,362$45,959$82,200— larger
Coeburn, VA 24230 86%389$48,573$101,600$123 larger · 5 min shorter commute

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.