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 Foley, AL 36535

Foley: median income $66,714, home value $282,700, $183/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 95%559$70,739$267,700$189 Very close on everything we compare
Ocala, FL 34482 94%337$65,901$271,100$171 smaller
Winter Haven, FL 33884 93%399$70,443$286,500$165 Very close on everything we compare
Summerfield, FL 34491 93%353$66,679$274,200$178 older residents
Cleveland, GA 30528 91%369$70,873$274,000$215 smaller
Ellijay, GA 30540 91%349$72,578$294,600$231 smaller
Palm Coast, FL 32164 91%393$76,399$339,000$187 pricier homes ($56K more)
Vero Beach, FL 32962 91%482$66,664$270,600$178 smaller · older homes
Ocala, FL 34476 91%338$65,860$282,200$159 Very close on everything we compare
Maryville, TN 37801 91%421$73,508$320,100$225 pricier homes ($37K more)
Kingman, AZ 86401 91%1,542$66,129$281,400$192 5 min shorter commute
Newport, NC 28570 90%695$70,229$260,000$208 smaller
Conway, SC 29526 90%559$68,825$253,100$177 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Cocoa, FL 32926 90%438$70,735$272,200$209 smaller · older homes
Rutherfordton, NC 28139 89%477$56,558$240,200$185 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · older homes
Piedmont, SC 29673 89%426$71,444$253,800$157 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Dandridge, TN 37725 89%459$68,385$261,500$233 smaller
Sevierville, TN 37876 89%449$58,277$302,900$275 Very close on everything we compare
Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520 89%106$62,176$225,600$230 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Corydon, IN 47112 89%548$70,903$248,200$159 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · younger residents
Rockport, TX 78382 89%589$75,135$270,900$253 smaller
Mocksville, NC 27028 88%562$69,137$225,700$178 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · younger residents
Statesville, NC 28625 88%545$64,060$244,300$178 cheaper homes ($38K less) · younger residents
Burnsville, NC 28714 88%492$58,998$236,600$216 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · older homes
York, SC 29745 88%492$79,117$280,800$173 younger residents

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.