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 Mc Donald, TN 37353

Mc Donald: median income $74,252, home value $253,300, $199/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Jordan, MI 49727 96%696$70,865$222,200$205 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Pauline, SC 29374 95%179$78,397$247,000$196 smaller
Cogan Station, PA 17728 94%608$77,165$235,500$172 Very close on everything we compare
Cherry Valley, IL 61016 94%537$84,883$231,200$175 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomfield, NY 14469 93%673$74,521$204,400$182 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Union Grove, AL 35175 93%96$74,600$199,300$170 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Fremont, IN 46737 93%459$74,975$199,200$240 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Little Mountain, SC 29075 92%213$75,884$257,400$217 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Cohutta, GA 30710 92%11$78,819$247,700$184 Very close on everything we compare
Amherst, WI 54406 92%684$77,533$284,800$186 pricier homes ($32K more)
Pennellville, NY 13132 91%733$72,473$197,200$208 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Rainsville, AL 35986 91%63$68,056$221,600$159 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Doylestown, OH 44230 91%444$79,526$229,000$189 larger
Vincent, OH 45784 91%346$82,713$229,800$183 smaller
Waterford, OH 45786 91%357$70,917$218,500$140 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Solsberry, IN 47459 91%295$76,061$244,100$158 smaller
Fennville, MI 49408 91%521$73,452$229,900$264 larger
Shell Lake, WI 54871 91%822$69,342$241,000$163 smaller
Laporte, MN 56461 91%980$78,188$273,700$193 smaller · younger residents
Centre Hall, PA 16828 90%562$76,468$273,800$192 more walkable
Marysville, PA 17053 90%568$82,269$227,500$189 cheaper homes ($26K less)
New Ringgold, PA 17960 90%627$73,281$231,300$168 Very close on everything we compare
Troutville, VA 24175 90%327$82,314$302,200$167 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Belews Creek, NC 27009 90%286$76,469$280,400$173 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Jackson Springs, NC 27281 90%301$74,547$292,400$193 pricier homes ($39K more) · 6 min longer commute

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.