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 Elmwood, TN 38560

Elmwood: median income $77,986, home value $241,300, $249/sq ft, 47-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Houston, AK 99694 87%3,212$74,531$290,100$276 pricier homes ($49K more) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Pahala, HI 96777 85%4,326$64,643$233,200$239 Very close on everything we compare
Shipman, VA 22971 83%404$79,135$319,000$260 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Lake Village, IN 46349 83%349$82,306$257,100$159 larger
Perrin, TX 76486 83%727$69,808$408,600$216 pricier homes ($167K more)
Grafton, NH 03240 82%893$81,563$267,300$223 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Titus, AL 36080 82%246$70,703$231,300$184 larger
Freeman, MO 64746 82%500$79,682$275,000$203 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Reelsville, IN 46171 81%236$83,607$287,100$208 pricier homes ($46K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Hindsville, AR 72738 81%445$86,296$229,000$211 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Bellevue, TX 76228 80%719$69,250$171,200$176 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
North Zulch, TX 77872 80%692$87,188$190,300$241 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Drexel, MO 64742 79%503$71,442$243,800$203 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Gay, GA 30218 78%227$68,250$193,900$221 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents
Meansville, GA 30256 78%240$73,571$299,000$200 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · older residents
Salvisa, KY 40372 78%129$74,205$229,800$189 older residents
Ogilvie, MN 56358 78%771$83,594$260,700$211 larger · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Wakefield, VA 23888 77%496$66,558$210,300$172 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Olympia, KY 40358 77%175$92,143$220,000— 9 min shorter commute
Mount Perry, OH 43760 77%322$79,783$275,700$241 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Grasston, MN 55030 77%763$81,563$195,800$209 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Cromwell, MN 55726 77%806$80,313$227,300$246 older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Brownfield, ME 04010 76%951$60,889$287,500$265 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Parsonsfield, ME 04047 76%945$72,045$272,100$296 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents · more walkable
Cartersville, VA 23027 76%438$95,407$243,200$224 older residents · 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.