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 Shelbyville, TN 37160

Shelbyville: median income $64,800, home value $277,700, $206/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Monroe, GA 30655 95%196$69,148$326,800$197 pricier homes ($49K more)
Laurel, DE 19956 94%637$65,603$259,500$192 smaller
Gainesville, GA 30507 93%175$71,703$257,800$176 Very close on everything we compare
Calhoun, GA 30701 93%110$63,921$229,900$164 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Bartow, FL 33830 93%591$63,918$228,900$178 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Seaford, DE 19973 92%637$64,387$278,300$202 older residents
Graham, NC 27253 92%399$62,774$235,800$176 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Sanford, NC 27330 92%410$61,300$242,700$160 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Griffin, GA 30224 92%199$70,216$239,100$155 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Winter Haven, FL 33880 92%587$56,390$228,300$169 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Okeechobee, FL 34972 92%645$61,040$220,000$225 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Ennis, TX 75119 92%622$77,053$278,800$156 Very close on everything we compare
Mountain Home, ID 83647 92%1,640$63,760$320,400$225 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Smithfield, NC 27577 91%456$62,758$260,300$170 older residents
Lincolnton, NC 28092 91%297$60,984$245,300$184 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older residents
Statesville, NC 28677 91%313$62,406$224,200$172 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Commerce, GA 30529 91%192$62,168$242,500$186 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Auburndale, FL 33823 91%580$71,485$256,900$185 older residents
Mulberry, FL 33860 91%586$65,710$250,400$186 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Terrell, TX 75160 91%592$71,801$255,700$170 Very close on everything we compare
Cleburne, TX 76033 91%664$76,292$253,800$163 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Worth, TX 76135 91%654$74,621$275,100$174 smaller
Georgetown, DE 19947 90%648$71,229$322,300$196 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Petersburg, VA 23805 90%518$60,807$233,400$173 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Benson, NC 27504 90%446$66,724$245,600$187 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller

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.