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 Alexandria, TN 37012

Alexandria: median income $49,265, home value $237,600, $204/sq ft, 42-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Felicity, OH 45120 94%218$50,446$210,000$186 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 5 min longer commute
Ford, WA 99013 92%1,808$49,518$214,000$218 Very close on everything we compare
Cumberland, VA 23040 88%442$52,819$234,000$234 larger · older residents
Mifflin, PA 17058 87%561$49,125$201,800— cheaper homes ($36K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Corapeake, NC 27926 86%526$57,333$231,300$217 more homeowners
Celeste, TX 75423 86%609$59,375$252,900$199 more homeowners
Tennessee Colony, TX 75861 86%638$54,224$214,000$225 smaller
Murchison, TX 75778 85%613$57,589$154,900$204 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Orwell, OH 44076 84%470$52,500$162,800$164 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Milford, TX 76670 84%681$60,104$216,900$136 5 min shorter commute
Penasco, NM 87553 83%1,096$48,906$202,700— cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Mount Nebo, WV 26679 82%323$53,459$164,900$179 cheaper homes ($73K less) · more single-family homes
Rhine, GA 31077 82%329$54,688$172,600— cheaper homes ($65K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Woodbourne, NY 12788 81%729$62,768$270,500$312 pricier homes ($33K more)
Greensboro, MD 21639 81%595$62,772$269,400$179 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Stanley, VA 22851 81%448$53,329$187,500$205 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Urbana, MO 65767 81%411$52,708$200,600$151 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Jamestown, SC 29453 80%414$71,328$182,100$235 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Cleveland, AL 35049 80%148$65,644$190,600$163 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Corning, OH 43730 80%326$45,313$172,900$131 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more homeowners
South Webster, OH 45682 80%263$56,250$187,700— cheaper homes ($50K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Vernon, FL 32462 79%377$50,662$179,200$120 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · more homeowners
Dundee, FL 33838 79%613$50,766$255,700$153 larger · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Flat Rock, AL 35966 79%89$43,883$149,700$192 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · older residents
Poland, IN 47868 79%239$51,409$159,500$169 cheaper homes ($78K less) · older 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.