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.

Reset

Towns most like Whites Creek, TN 37189

Whites Creek: median income $87,047, home value $383,200, $231/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oley, PA 19547 93%663$89,948$357,900$213 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Athens, NY 12015 92%809$91,845$306,300$226 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Alexandria, OH 43001 92%350$93,804$387,400$216 Very close on everything we compare
Middletown, VA 22645 91%505$90,875$419,900$219 pricier homes ($37K more)
Weston, MO 64098 91%492$92,661$317,600$186 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Ghent, NY 12075 90%817$98,047$422,900$253 pricier homes ($40K more) · older homes
Galena, MD 21635 90%634$101,618$402,000$258 smaller
Madison, VA 22727 90%490$84,857$379,900$228 larger
Columbus, MT 59019 90%1,330$84,591$398,100$179 Very close on everything we compare
Milton, NY 12547 89%783$88,778$377,200$255 more apartments and townhomes
Etowah, NC 28729 89%246$84,413$321,000$244 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Deerwood, MN 56444 89%791$77,500$365,200$238 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Park, MN 56554 89%870$94,792$376,400$307 more homeowners
Twain Harte, CA 95383 89%1,833$86,970$461,100$265 pricier homes ($78K more) · 6 min longer commute
Readfield, ME 04355 88%1,048$86,504$326,400$223 cheaper homes ($57K less) · more homeowners
Spring Mills, PA 16875 88%591$71,250$307,700$211 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Barto, PA 19504 88%672$98,859$388,300$225 larger · more homeowners
Trappe, MD 21673 88%613$68,194$363,100$205 Very close on everything we compare
Cedar, MI 49621 88%596$95,446$396,600$278 more homeowners
Black Earth, WI 53515 88%498$92,625$361,300$218 5 min shorter commute
Mazomanie, WI 53560 88%502$98,409$358,000$228 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Cleveland, MN 56017 88%667$88,056$330,900$211 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Cleveland, MO 64734 88%456$88,274$393,900$233 Very close on everything we compare
Ashland, NE 68003 88%612$95,709$306,500$185 cheaper homes ($77K less) · younger residents
Troy, ID 83871 88%1,696$89,750$361,800$179 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.