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 Canton, MS 39046

Canton: median income $49,132, home value $216,800, $177/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seneca, SC 29678 94%431$52,550$225,500$178 Very close on everything we compare
Hammond, LA 70403 94%150$50,976$212,400$148 Very close on everything we compare
Cornelia, GA 30531 93%394$53,762$227,300$169 smaller
Athens, AL 35611 92%231$57,377$225,600$158 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, TN 37321 92%348$54,684$192,700$179 Very close on everything we compare
Bolivar, MO 65613 92%395$59,172$212,900$168 smaller
Graham, NC 27253 91%650$62,774$235,800$176 Very close on everything we compare
Sanford, NC 27330 91%650$61,300$242,700$160 pricier homes ($26K more)
Siler City, NC 27344 91%640$57,320$184,200$186 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Gaffney, SC 29341 91%506$58,029$188,900$167 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Berea, KY 40403 91%471$61,771$200,200$172 Very close on everything we compare
Hartsville, SC 29550 90%584$51,491$179,300$148 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Lagrange, GA 30241 90%294$49,053$201,800$150 Very close on everything we compare
Milledgeville, GA 31061 90%394$54,263$184,400$146 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Morristown, TN 37814 90%455$55,650$220,500$172 older homes
Mount Sterling, KY 40353 90%508$57,329$184,000$162 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Glasgow, KY 42141 90%380$52,896$184,700$146 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Winston-Salem, NC 27127 89%604$61,926$219,600$164 Very close on everything we compare
Lagrange, GA 30240 89%288$61,584$256,900$155 pricier homes ($40K more)
Jacksonville, AL 36265 89%258$55,294$175,900$147 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Shelby, NC 28152 88%519$57,806$205,200$158 older homes
Clinton, NC 28328 88%690$52,942$163,000$153 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Statesville, NC 28677 88%565$62,406$224,200$172 Very close on everything we compare
Spartanburg, SC 29301 88%489$57,805$212,000$142 Very close on everything we compare
Aiken, SC 29801 88%484$59,573$174,100$148 cheaper homes ($43K less)

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.