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 Roan Mountain, TN 37687

Roan Mountain: median income $49,914, home value $160,900, $229/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gladys, VA 24554 94%178$56,667$159,600$198 Very close on everything we compare
Winona, TX 75792 94%786$54,293$169,000$193 Very close on everything we compare
Corinna, ME 04928 92%904$56,547$163,200$213 smaller
Ellenboro, NC 28040 92%61$58,816$169,500$183 larger
Riegelwood, NC 28456 92%250$49,670$167,900$170 Very close on everything we compare
Robbinsville, NC 28771 92%112$49,407$168,800$256 larger
Ider, AL 35981 92%224$45,556$152,200— smaller
Hustonville, KY 40437 92%177$53,775$126,000$170 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Hesperia, MI 49421 92%554$53,555$162,100$160 Very close on everything we compare
Woodville, AL 35776 91%256$54,458$159,400$165 Very close on everything we compare
Wyandotte, OK 74370 91%702$52,535$153,700$244 more renters
Masontown, WV 26542 90%266$54,375$152,000$173 smaller
Autryville, NC 28318 90%209$56,439$154,200$148 Very close on everything we compare
Currie, NC 28435 90%255$46,429$162,400$250 smaller
Iva, SC 29655 90%132$51,395$163,400$175 larger
Coolville, OH 45723 90%210$57,222$168,900$258 Very close on everything we compare
Hulbert, OK 74441 90%731$52,758$158,400$162 Very close on everything we compare
Vian, OK 74962 90%724$54,080$157,500$194 Very close on everything we compare
Watts, OK 74964 90%700$47,250$123,600$182 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Arp, TX 75750 90%789$50,948$172,300$181 Very close on everything we compare
French Creek, WV 26218 89%214$58,646$143,900— smaller
Bennett, NC 27208 89%149$58,947$172,700$226 smaller
Mc Intosh, AL 36553 89%484$51,897$185,900$156 pricier homes ($25K more)
Mc Dermott, OH 45652 89%192$42,708$137,000— older residents
Gobles, MI 49055 89%473$62,083$163,600$184 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.