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.

Reset

Towns most like Troy, AL 36079

Troy: median income $59,405, home value $177,100, $166/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gaffney, SC 29341 95%339$58,029$188,900$167 larger
Hollister, MO 65672 92%531$59,737$176,700$196 older residents
Florence, SC 29505 91%401$67,343$179,800$149 larger
Ellisville, MS 39437 91%189$56,240$174,100$143 Very close on everything we compare
Benton, MO 63736 91%419$59,414$168,700$154 smaller
Princess Anne, MD 21853 90%733$69,697$208,300$187 pricier homes ($31K more)
Mineral Wells, WV 26150 90%572$61,786$172,500$146 smaller
Blackshear, GA 31516 90%223$63,203$154,900$143 larger
Purvis, MS 39475 90%208$63,887$192,200$155 larger
Berea, KY 40403 90%414$61,771$200,200$172 larger
Lafayette, LA 70507 90%370$64,049$212,400$137 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Rockwell, NC 28138 89%414$66,896$216,100$183 pricier homes ($39K more)
Maysville, NC 28555 89%550$69,236$170,700$186 smaller
Warrenville, SC 29851 89%274$70,953$164,000$148 Very close on everything we compare
Richland, MS 39218 89%245$65,327$128,900$158 cheaper homes ($48K less)
London, KY 40741 89%388$64,552$168,500$149 larger
Bidwell, OH 45614 89%538$60,000$162,300$161 smaller
Ingleside, TX 78362 89%723$71,058$191,200$164 Very close on everything we compare
Evington, VA 24550 88%541$69,025$221,800$219 pricier homes ($45K more)
Barboursville, WV 25504 88%504$62,530$178,400$155 older homes
Siler City, NC 27344 88%466$57,320$184,200$186 larger
Nashville, NC 27856 88%546$66,510$194,600$162 larger
Conover, NC 28613 88%389$58,707$230,100$194 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Orangeburg, SC 29118 88%321$64,167$176,600$155 larger · 6 min longer commute
Wellford, SC 29385 88%316$58,249$216,900$162 pricier homes ($40K more)

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.