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 Gates, TN 38037

Gates: median income $51,976, home value $88,700, $190/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Verdunville, WV 25649 91%430$53,262$113,100— Very close on everything we compare
Teec Nos Pos, AZ 86514 91%1,112$47,917$73,300— newer homes
Varney, WV 25696 90%423$48,077$109,400— Very close on everything we compare
Drakes Branch, VA 23937 88%608$42,818$85,000$177 Very close on everything we compare
Clinchco, VA 24226 87%403$54,191$81,300— younger residents
Benoit, MS 38725 87%175$47,115$80,700— smaller
Stapleton, GA 30823 86%434$61,607$111,100$130 Very close on everything we compare
Haworth, OK 74740 86%328$41,141$99,700— Very close on everything we compare
Hosford, FL 32334 85%460$60,781$111,600$202 more homeowners
Burnsville, WV 26335 84%522$51,513$112,900— smaller
Midville, GA 30441 84%457$41,220$87,700$268 older residents
Lexington, MS 39095 84%188$43,077$91,800$174 larger
Richwoods, MO 63071 84%181$44,853$122,900$188 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · older residents
Bradford, AR 72020 84%122$49,231$95,300— larger · more homeowners
Bunch, OK 74931 84%301$56,667$125,500$160 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Alberta, VA 23821 83%643$46,336$98,500$157 6 min shorter commute
Victor, WV 25938 83%489$59,833$99,300— more homeowners
Rainelle, WV 25962 83%499$44,004$96,800$141 larger
Mitchell, GA 30820 83%422$51,146$82,800— smaller · older residents
Blaine, KY 41124 83%393$55,139$63,200$173 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Otway, OH 45657 83%399$63,459$117,500$154 pricier homes ($29K more) · more homeowners
Honaker, VA 24260 82%419$46,250$95,300$141 larger · more homeowners
Bowman, SC 29018 82%524$49,167$108,000$162 larger · more homeowners
Poulan, GA 31781 82%436$52,991$110,800$123 more homeowners
Summer Shade, KY 42166 82%219$49,783$116,200$145 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · more homeowners

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.