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 Joelton, TN 37080

Joelton: median income $87,963, home value $333,700, $232/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Limington, ME 04049 96%997$84,675$295,600$257 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Mineral, VA 23117 96%511$89,241$301,400$264 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Street, MD 21154 94%618$97,658$455,400$257 pricier homes ($122K more)
Sharpsburg, MD 21782 94%544$94,130$311,600$207 smaller
Almont, MI 48003 94%500$90,452$290,100$222 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Stanardsville, VA 22973 93%483$76,964$284,000$218 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Centerburg, OH 43011 93%357$90,121$315,600$205 younger residents
East China, MI 48054 93%503$83,241$301,400$199 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Fairfield, PA 17320 92%572$90,076$295,000$174 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents
Effort, PA 18330 92%696$93,733$291,600$183 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Long Pond, PA 18334 92%699$90,729$254,600$209 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Appling, GA 30802 92%322$85,625$322,000$215 5 min shorter commute
Memphis, MI 48041 92%506$75,677$316,500$188 smaller
Dryden, MI 48428 92%499$100,033$311,600$204 younger residents
Stewartstown, PA 17363 91%609$107,386$320,100$203 Very close on everything we compare
Conowingo, MD 21918 91%629$84,587$324,800$230 smaller · younger residents
Goodview, VA 24095 91%402$80,246$259,500$185 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Murrayville, GA 30564 91%215$76,188$333,000$207 Very close on everything we compare
Brooksville, FL 34602 91%604$77,215$276,400$190 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Hebron, IN 46341 91%345$89,559$269,300$189 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Nashville, IN 47448 91%204$72,537$312,600$196 Very close on everything we compare
East Berlin, PA 17316 90%594$90,664$293,200$184 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Kunkletown, PA 18058 90%693$73,041$264,000$188 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Saylorsburg, PA 18353 90%698$79,071$288,200$183 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Woodford, VA 22580 90%535$93,603$353,800$248 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.