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 Smithville, TN 37166

Smithville: median income $52,797, home value $224,300, $209/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, NC 28034 95%263$62,083$257,200$187 pricier homes ($33K more)
Lavonia, GA 30553 95%183$52,833$207,900$202 smaller
Scottsville, KY 42164 94%61$60,106$196,800$159 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Appomattox, VA 24522 93%399$60,503$199,200$174 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
King, NC 27021 93%305$63,552$219,600$177 Very close on everything we compare
Madison, NC 27025 93%327$56,682$194,700$184 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Bessemer City, NC 28016 93%258$57,147$222,700$183 Very close on everything we compare
Cadiz, KY 42211 93%128$59,804$210,000$165 Very close on everything we compare
Edenton, NC 27932 92%513$53,490$233,400$200 older residents
Kings Mountain, NC 28086 92%253$62,414$207,300$173 larger
Lincolnton, NC 28092 92%261$60,984$245,300$184 larger
Connelly Springs, NC 28612 92%241$54,934$162,400$185 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Taylorsville, NC 28681 92%257$60,977$209,000$194 larger
Cornelia, GA 30531 92%160$53,762$227,300$169 Very close on everything we compare
Toccoa, GA 30577 92%169$53,818$181,100$164 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Cullman, AL 35058 92%130$62,146$212,300$164 Very close on everything we compare
Scottsboro, AL 35769 92%92$55,687$210,700$165 smaller
Mount Sterling, KY 40353 92%179$57,329$184,000$162 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Cynthiana, KY 41031 92%190$64,883$212,000$175 Very close on everything we compare
Leitchfield, KY 42754 92%110$48,737$171,800$155 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Eldon, MO 65026 92%408$48,824$190,500$169 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Winnsboro, TX 75494 92%578$59,539$199,100$164 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Siler City, NC 27344 91%356$57,320$184,200$186 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Kenly, NC 27542 91%430$66,038$214,100$188 smaller
Oxford, NC 27565 91%402$56,432$204,000$180 larger

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.