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 Pelham, TN 37366

Pelham: median income $58,616, home value $188,500, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Melvin, MI 48454 96%568$62,639$188,500$75 Very close on everything we compare
Porter, ME 04068 94%986$60,417$226,100$201 pricier homes ($38K more)
Carsonville, MI 48419 94%586$59,485$172,900$242 larger
Kingston, MI 48741 93%576$59,107$154,800$97 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Daggett, MI 49821 93%709$58,750$164,300$162 Very close on everything we compare
Home, PA 15747 92%524$54,938$192,900$108 Very close on everything we compare
Catawba, VA 24070 92%348$66,188$238,800$217 pricier homes ($50K more)
Lake Hamilton, FL 33851 92%560$62,284$236,400— pricier homes ($48K more)
Gilman, WI 54433 92%731$69,000$194,400$159 larger
Branchport, NY 14418 91%684$65,577$193,800$381 Very close on everything we compare
Brethren, MI 49619 91%621$62,574$162,100$206 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents
Ogema, WI 54459 91%737$66,250$156,600$224 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Randall, MN 56475 91%870$64,327$207,800$150 Very close on everything we compare
Rayville, MO 64084 91%530$65,060$243,300$211 pricier homes ($55K more)
Chamois, MO 65024 91%400$68,438$161,600$47 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Wakefield, KS 67487 91%671$67,813$183,900$126 Very close on everything we compare
Plymouth, ME 04969 90%1,092$61,964$207,100— Very close on everything we compare
Palestine, WV 26160 90%351$48,992$181,100— Very close on everything we compare
Rivesville, WV 26588 90%429$60,990$173,300$109 larger
Farmdale, OH 44417 90%505$52,763$197,600$142 Very close on everything we compare
Stark City, MO 64866 90%476$59,712$169,100— newer homes
Strong, ME 04983 89%1,052$53,894$190,500$195 larger
Bentley, MI 48613 89%602$58,846$160,900— cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Fulton, MI 49052 89%472$63,889$202,900$117 8 min shorter commute
Fountain, MI 49410 89%603$61,515$172,600$177 6 min shorter 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.