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 Midway, AL 36053

Midway: median income $49,357, home value $104,200, 43-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Traphill, NC 28685 94%390$46,406$123,200$312 Very close on everything we compare
Waynesburg, KY 40489 92%366$56,034$91,200$157 larger
Shady Dale, GA 31085 91%144$46,375$116,100$200 Very close on everything we compare
Irondale, MO 63648 91%492$51,765$99,500$126 5 min shorter commute
Eutawville, SC 29048 90%316$41,774$110,000$145 larger
Norway, SC 29113 90%273$48,857$84,200— 6 min shorter commute
Florien, LA 71429 90%471$58,601$111,700$135 older residents
Bowman, SC 29018 89%295$49,167$108,000$162 7 min shorter commute
Poulan, GA 31781 89%110$52,991$110,800$123 Very close on everything we compare
Varney, WV 25696 88%431$48,077$109,400— smaller
Cassatt, SC 29032 88%330$58,168$99,600$159 larger · older residents
Smoaks, SC 29481 88%283$46,719$88,900— more apartments and townhomes
Milan, GA 31060 88%145$49,643$80,700— Very close on everything we compare
Oakman, AL 35579 88%154$46,968$110,800$86 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Autaugaville, AL 36003 88%74$42,554$145,700— pricier homes ($42K more)
English, IN 47118 88%434$41,579$119,000$192 Very close on everything we compare
Washington, LA 70589 88%395$49,650$129,300$146 pricier homes ($25K more)
Abbeville, GA 31001 87%131$52,917$93,000$199 larger · more renters
Honoraville, AL 36042 87%53$61,120$111,000— Very close on everything we compare
Germantown, KY 41044 87%460$54,406$118,600$108 smaller
Summer Shade, KY 42166 87%331$49,783$116,200$145 8 min shorter commute
Whitley City, KY 42653 87%325$42,656$109,200$158 larger
Saline, LA 71070 87%432$59,259$109,100$116 5 min shorter commute
Hessmer, LA 71341 87%396$50,029$124,800$103 6 min longer commute
Bivins, TX 75555 87%505$58,750$112,100— Very close on everything we compare

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.