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 Big Sandy, TN 38221

Big Sandy: median income $52,714, home value $139,100, $174/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Adams, WI 53910 93%538$49,875$139,900$136 Very close on everything we compare
Belhaven, NC 27810 92%642$51,277$173,900$187 pricier homes ($35K more)
Gaston, NC 27832 92%580$52,194$113,600— cheaper homes ($26K less)
Whigham, GA 39897 92%427$54,639$141,500$152 more homeowners
Newton, GA 39870 91%401$50,938$109,600— cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Crescent, OK 73028 91%533$56,372$154,900$160 younger residents
Hurt, VA 24563 90%489$47,247$145,600$165 larger
Robersonville, NC 27871 90%604$46,172$114,100$162 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older homes
Washington, GA 30673 90%347$51,748$136,400$154 larger
Dexter, ME 04930 89%1,153$54,137$168,600$136 pricier homes ($30K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Brodnax, VA 23920 89%560$64,135$128,300$149 Very close on everything we compare
Gladstone, VA 24553 89%517$50,385$140,500$226 smaller · more homeowners
Waldo, FL 32694 89%561$43,537$124,200$177 Very close on everything we compare
Fairchance, PA 15436 88%516$62,917$156,200$176 smaller
Keysville, VA 23947 88%535$51,800$176,500$164 pricier homes ($37K more) · 7 min longer commute
Stuart, VA 24171 88%436$57,778$148,300$139 larger
Mayodan, NC 27027 87%451$45,469$118,500$137 older homes
Grantsboro, NC 28529 87%633$65,060$162,300$187 smaller
Mead, OK 73449 87%503$52,338$143,700$150 more homeowners
Sandy Creek, NY 13145 86%813$60,625$142,200$142 smaller · younger residents
Patrick Springs, VA 24133 86%441$61,964$117,400$142 younger residents
Creston, NC 28615 86%357$51,653$152,600$201 smaller
Bamberg, SC 29003 86%449$52,624$108,300$122 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Yemassee, SC 29945 86%482$55,449$124,300$166 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Lincolnton, GA 30817 86%360$57,089$173,200$190 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · younger 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.