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 Johnson City, TN 37615

Johnson City: median income $77,525, home value $294,900, $200/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wilson, NC 27896 95%254$75,696$242,700$170 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Tyler, TX 75707 95%779$84,954$274,900$173 Very close on everything we compare
New Bern, NC 28562 94%313$75,012$277,800$183 larger
Alachua, FL 32615 94%455$85,701$297,200$172 Very close on everything we compare
High Point, NC 27265 93%139$73,981$266,700$167 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Carthage, NC 28327 93%187$87,434$322,000$194 pricier homes ($27K more)
Candler, NC 28715 93%61$71,716$309,000$258 Very close on everything we compare
Fletcher, NC 28732 93%66$81,852$376,700$233 pricier homes ($82K more)
Madison, GA 30650 93%202$71,599$336,400$197 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Alexandria, MN 56308 93%937$78,177$341,900$194 pricier homes ($47K more)
Kernersville, NC 27284 92%133$82,461$283,600$174 larger
Taylors, SC 29687 92%102$80,051$267,400$185 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Statesboro, GA 30461 92%276$80,224$255,800$158 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Versailles, KY 40383 92%169$85,213$312,500$186 Very close on everything we compare
Holland, OH 43528 92%367$93,986$276,100$165 Very close on everything we compare
Brookline, MO 65619 92%609$85,024$244,500$179 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Carlisle, PA 17015 91%385$86,981$297,500$189 older residents
Forest, VA 24551 91%187$91,067$362,500$187 pricier homes ($68K more)
Mebane, NC 27302 91%178$79,819$312,400$186 larger · 6 min longer commute
Mount Holly, NC 28120 91%109$78,231$321,500$210 pricier homes ($27K more)
Winterville, NC 28590 91%289$83,880$266,400$159 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Anderson, SC 29621 91%130$74,256$278,400$159 larger
Rock Hill, SC 29732 91%126$84,937$334,000$198 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Guntersville, AL 35976 91%258$72,643$266,500$190 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Dothan, AL 36305 91%398$84,302$251,000$153 cheaper homes ($44K less)

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.