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 Lillian, AL 36549

Lillian: median income $63,019, home value $216,200, $161/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mc Cormick, SC 29835 91%389$57,574$184,100$196 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Floral City, FL 34436 88%331$55,802$221,600$214 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Pierce, FL 34951 88%471$63,122$244,900$189 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · younger residents
Yantis, TX 75497 88%505$56,205$212,800$212 smaller
Eureka Springs, AR 72631 86%553$56,678$259,300$169 pricier homes ($43K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Hemphill, TX 75948 86%380$62,028$187,000$168 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Amado, AZ 85645 86%1,399$60,714$206,800$173 smaller
Higden, AR 72067 85%448$53,668$211,700$155 smaller · younger residents
Afton, OK 74331 85%608$61,272$204,500$218 younger residents
Shingletown, CA 96088 85%2,043$65,958$292,000$202 pricier homes ($76K more) · more single-family homes
Marietta, SC 29661 84%431$55,099$180,900$223 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents
Melrose, FL 32666 84%329$68,765$218,000$222 7 min shorter commute
Sebring, FL 33876 84%423$55,564$174,100$159 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Boydton, VA 23917 83%679$73,965$201,600$187 smaller · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Lowgap, NC 27024 83%571$62,813$188,600$191 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · younger residents
Homosassa, FL 34446 83%319$58,802$256,500$163 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Springville, TN 38256 83%407$56,023$166,400$174 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · younger residents
Irons, MI 49644 83%950$54,013$175,400$175 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Scott, AR 72142 83%401$62,863$196,900$179 smaller
Ridgeway, SC 29130 82%468$63,963$265,500$273 pricier homes ($49K more)
Dunnellon, FL 34432 82%321$50,446$248,300$191 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · younger residents
Kuttawa, KY 42055 82%462$63,456$179,400$152 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · younger residents
Deepwater, MO 64740 82%649$61,641$147,300$167 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Hertford, NC 27944 81%754$67,938$236,900$186 larger · younger residents · more renters
Havana, FL 32333 81%183$60,816$235,800$180 larger · 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.