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 Dickson, TN 37055

Dickson: median income $69,821, home value $294,600, $237/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Monroe, GA 30655 95%262$69,148$326,800$197 pricier homes ($32K more)
Plant City, FL 33566 95%637$72,393$330,900$202 pricier homes ($36K more)
Seaford, DE 19973 94%671$64,387$278,300$202 Very close on everything we compare
Strasburg, VA 22657 94%535$63,975$304,900$218 smaller
Monroe, NC 28112 94%394$80,495$296,900$200 Very close on everything we compare
Auburndale, FL 33823 94%642$71,485$256,900$185 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Benson, NC 27504 93%499$66,724$245,600$187 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Dade City, FL 33523 93%609$64,826$244,400$205 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Seffner, FL 33584 93%634$72,267$311,300$214 older residents
Mountain Home, ID 83647 93%1,575$63,760$320,400$225 pricier homes ($26K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Quarryville, PA 17566 92%667$78,108$306,200$233 smaller
Georgetown, DE 19947 92%683$71,229$322,300$196 pricier homes ($28K more)
Laurel, DE 19956 92%672$65,603$259,500$192 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Hayes, VA 23072 92%610$74,559$311,500$224 smaller
Richmond, VA 23237 92%558$79,606$277,100$196 Very close on everything we compare
Suffolk, VA 23434 92%602$79,877$313,500$197 larger
Milton, FL 32570 92%375$77,222$258,200$172 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Deland, FL 32720 92%601$68,830$322,600$197 pricier homes ($28K more)
Bardstown, KY 40004 92%161$66,578$242,200$189 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Banning, CA 92220 92%1,669$62,599$354,600$264 pricier homes ($60K more)
Prince George, VA 23875 91%567$74,543$271,700$203 smaller
Smithfield, NC 27577 91%509$62,758$260,300$170 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Dallas, NC 28034 91%352$62,083$257,200$187 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · older residents
Kannapolis, NC 28081 91%381$71,665$285,100$207 more walkable
Travelers Rest, SC 29690 91%289$69,956$287,000$227 Very close on everything we compare

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.