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 Randolph, MS 38864

Randolph: median income $54,130, home value $161,500, $79/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spartansburg, PA 16434 89%738$59,420$145,300$113 Very close on everything we compare
Ballard, WV 24918 89%525$63,594$140,800— Very close on everything we compare
West Edmeston, NY 13485 87%956$62,337$151,600$82 older residents
Dorset, OH 44032 86%695$55,188$167,600$120 Very close on everything we compare
Stokes, NC 27884 84%682$64,306$114,700$91 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Geneva, IN 46740 84%502$58,484$158,900$125 larger · older homes
Medaryville, IN 47957 84%495$61,002$159,400$125 Very close on everything we compare
Xenia, IL 62899 84%311$55,482$147,800$50 older residents
Smicksburg, PA 16256 83%716$60,398$155,400— younger residents · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Geraldine, AL 35974 83%181$52,054$155,900$97 older residents · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Ariton, AL 36311 83%269$51,563$158,000— older residents
Dunnville, KY 42528 83%315$50,227$158,800$76 older residents · newer homes
Atlantic, PA 16111 82%703$70,074$162,300— smaller · older residents
Worthington, WV 26591 82%612$61,071$124,000$98 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Flomaton, AL 36441 81%243$50,349$138,100$109 larger · older residents · more renters
Pall Mall, TN 38577 81%287$52,578$153,000— smaller · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Pierpont, OH 44082 81%703$51,687$151,800$115 older residents · older homes
Hornbeck, LA 71439 81%313$43,638$109,700$50 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Castle Creek, NY 13744 80%910$61,086$120,000— cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · older residents
Harrisonville, PA 17228 80%731$67,438$172,000$114 smaller · older residents
Fresno, OH 43824 80%592$54,757$183,700— larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Montgomery, MI 49255 80%577$51,346$141,400$60 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Murray, IA 50174 80%542$67,250$132,400$122 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Hagerman, NM 88232 80%874$65,000$134,700— cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents
Etna Green, IN 46524 79%522$65,987$178,100$89 older residents · 9 min shorter commute

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.