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 Cookeville, TN 38506

Cookeville: median income $70,279, home value $288,100, $193/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Piedmont, SC 29673 95%195$71,444$253,800$157 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Brainerd, MN 56401 95%833$73,128$261,600$192 cheaper homes ($27K less)
New Bern, NC 28562 94%474$75,012$277,800$183 Very close on everything we compare
Guntersville, AL 35976 94%135$72,643$266,500$190 smaller
Bardstown, KY 40004 94%112$66,578$242,200$189 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Newport, NC 28570 93%490$70,229$260,000$208 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Statesville, NC 28625 93%255$64,060$244,300$178 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Candler, NC 28715 93%160$71,716$309,000$258 Very close on everything we compare
Pensacola, FL 32526 93%409$75,098$251,300$173 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Ocala, FL 34480 93%526$77,557$282,700$184 younger residents
Decatur, AL 35603 93%143$81,490$247,400$151 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Alexandria, MN 56308 93%846$78,177$341,900$194 pricier homes ($54K more)
Tyler, TX 75707 93%618$84,954$274,900$173 smaller
Las Cruces, NM 88007 93%1,246$64,892$246,100$190 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Anderson, SC 29621 92%195$74,256$278,400$159 larger
Travelers Rest, SC 29690 92%188$69,956$287,000$227 6 min longer commute
Madison, GA 30650 92%211$71,599$336,400$197 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Perry, GA 31069 92%275$74,501$227,300$156 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Shelbyville, KY 40065 92%141$77,869$280,500$175 Very close on everything we compare
Wilmington, OH 45177 92%242$74,051$226,300$183 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Kernersville, NC 27284 91%299$82,461$283,600$174 larger
Wilson, NC 27896 91%418$75,696$242,700$170 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Mount Holly, NC 28120 91%254$78,231$321,500$210 pricier homes ($33K more) · 6 min longer commute
New Bern, NC 28560 91%480$65,411$216,900$171 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Angola, IN 46703 91%379$74,569$231,300$173 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller

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.