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 Alcoa, TN 37701

Alcoa: median income $66,132, home value $281,100, $252/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mary Esther, FL 32569 91%404$77,718$326,000$215 pricier homes ($45K more) · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35210 90%217$73,061$255,800$191 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Grove City, PA 16127 89%427$72,429$213,700$191 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Lexington, VA 24450 88%286$76,587$305,100$225 larger
Beaufort, SC 29902 88%299$69,752$349,100$266 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Monte Vista, CO 81144 88%1,231$64,662$234,200$191 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Powell, WY 82435 87%1,439$67,534$362,700$233 pricier homes ($82K more) · older residents
Preston, ID 83263 87%1,553$62,500$379,600$252 pricier homes ($99K more)
Buhl, ID 83316 87%1,705$69,593$310,300$240 pricier homes ($29K more)
Richmond, ME 04357 86%943$65,854$242,700$239 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Viroqua, WI 54665 86%650$72,093$228,200$193 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older residents
Cloquet, MN 55720 86%877$64,167$223,200$204 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Sturgis, SD 57785 86%1,180$63,897$296,100$221 older residents
Dillon, MT 59725 86%1,630$61,335$311,400$201 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents
Snow Hill, MD 21863 85%501$61,975$263,600$180 smaller
Meeker, CO 81641 85%1,332$63,070$329,700$174 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Swannanoa, NC 28778 84%89$73,408$303,300$256 older residents · newer homes
Greenville, SC 29605 84%112$65,648$256,300$189 larger · more walkable
Lebanon, IN 46052 84%324$68,930$221,900$178 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Gooding, ID 83330 84%1,704$60,842$254,900$235 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Fowler, CA 93625 84%1,979$72,500$392,700$253 pricier homes ($112K more) · newer homes
Swanton, VT 05488 83%850$77,154$288,700$225 older residents
Quarryville, PA 17566 83%513$78,108$306,200$233 pricier homes ($25K more)
Fruitland, MD 21826 83%493$64,946$223,100$183 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Waynesboro, VA 22980 83%322$63,943$268,100$198 larger · older residents

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.