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 Butler, TN 37640

Butler: median income $55,402, home value $174,000, $304/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Macon, NC 27551 93%222$59,375$175,000$312 smaller
Cross Hill, SC 29332 93%142$59,091$158,700$300 Very close on everything we compare
Marietta, SC 29661 92%94$55,099$180,900$223 larger
Arley, AL 35541 92%333$57,143$190,300$269 Very close on everything we compare
Eucha, OK 74342 92%719$57,321$160,500$269 smaller · older homes
Willis, VA 24380 91%91$57,778$224,400$264 pricier homes ($50K more)
Arkdale, WI 54613 91%677$51,528$172,400$232 smaller
Pierre Part, LA 70339 91%691$51,659$170,500$236 Very close on everything we compare
Zionville, NC 28698 90%13$54,402$219,400$264 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Eclectic, AL 36024 89%343$57,595$243,000$277 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Kittrell, NC 27544 88%199$66,304$173,900$212 Very close on everything we compare
Littleton, NC 27850 88%230$65,672$192,600$314 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Green Mountain, NC 28740 88%28$48,214$213,000$310 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Nebo, NC 28761 88%45$54,869$176,700$270 larger · younger residents
Vincent, AL 35178 88%322$55,299$148,700$235 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Lowgap, NC 27024 87%68$62,813$188,600$191 smaller
Mount Gilead, NC 27306 87%135$57,934$171,800$226 Very close on everything we compare
Seabrook, SC 29940 87%270$54,177$172,100$337 more apartments and townhomes
Afton, OK 74331 87%720$61,272$204,500$218 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Milano, TX 76556 87%940$52,328$153,800— smaller · younger residents
Hot Springs, NC 28743 86%62$58,011$162,800$259 smaller · younger residents
Locust Fork, AL 35097 86%311$58,056$150,500— smaller · younger residents
Wedowee, AL 36278 86%288$58,214$261,000$240 pricier homes ($87K more)
Toomsuba, MS 39364 86%458$65,294$165,900— younger residents
Coolville, OH 45723 86%200$57,222$168,900$258 Very close on everything we compare

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.