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 Waverly, AL 36879

Waverly: median income $93,029, home value $325,900, $202/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orrington, ME 04474 94%1,219$94,556$309,000$192 Very close on everything we compare
Piedmont, SD 57769 94%1,244$94,375$367,400$243 pricier homes ($42K more)
Linn Creek, MO 65052 94%545$87,125$350,700$191 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Ulla, NC 28125 91%338$85,739$360,700$183 pricier homes ($35K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Cataula, GA 31804 91%36$103,095$323,600$164 larger
Belgrade, ME 04917 90%1,166$88,338$312,200$238 older homes
Roanoke, IN 46783 89%566$101,705$303,700$185 larger · younger residents
Sherwood, WI 54169 89%802$109,524$351,200$208 pricier homes ($25K more) · 5 min longer commute
Crooks, SD 57020 89%970$101,500$320,400$169 smaller
Mount Crawford, VA 22841 88%536$92,862$370,500$207 pricier homes ($45K more) · older homes
Clermont, GA 30527 88%155$103,281$356,000$185 pricier homes ($30K more) · 7 min longer commute
Hamilton, GA 31811 88%37$90,385$294,600$188 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Lake Ann, MI 49650 88%827$87,500$275,400$265 cheaper homes ($51K less) · younger residents
Swisher, IA 52338 88%711$119,605$392,700$170 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($67K more)
Belleville, WI 53508 88%732$99,948$350,700$230 larger
New London, MN 56273 88%1,001$90,122$320,100$170 larger · older homes
Winfield, PA 17889 87%737$89,063$288,900$188 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older homes
Mount Sidney, VA 24467 87%529$93,851$386,300$180 pricier homes ($60K more) · older residents
Etowah, NC 28729 87%243$84,413$321,000$244 older homes
Ellerslie, GA 31807 87%43$109,345$323,400$176 younger residents
Oldenburg, IN 47036 87%458$98,300$413,700— pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73150 87%700$92,318$313,500$164 larger
Christoval, TX 76935 87%885$76,250$328,800$243 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Minot, ME 04258 86%1,133$95,655$294,900$208 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Galway, NY 12074 86%944$94,583$304,800$234 7 min longer commute · older homes

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.