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 Raleigh, MS 39153

Raleigh: median income $60,833, home value $99,200, $312/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bivins, TX 75555 94%277$58,750$112,100— smaller
Bradford, AR 72020 92%260$49,231$95,300— Very close on everything we compare
Honoraville, AL 36042 89%183$61,120$111,000— smaller · younger residents
Gilbertown, AL 36908 89%70$68,125$111,400— smaller
Shelbyville, TX 75973 89%263$67,023$130,800— pricier homes ($32K more)
Victor, WV 25938 87%637$59,833$99,300— smaller · more single-family homes
Silas, AL 36919 87%73$59,091$100,300— smaller · older residents
Plymouth, IL 62367 87%577$58,000$126,700— pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Anson, ME 04911 86%1,371$62,697$121,800$211 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Speedwell, TN 37870 86%446$55,516$126,400$205 pricier homes ($27K more)
Springfield, AR 72157 86%283$62,931$140,300— pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Hosford, FL 32334 85%301$60,781$111,600$202 Very close on everything we compare
Flemington, WV 26347 84%724$61,250$112,200$221 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Atkinson, NC 28421 84%677$60,025$118,400$330 Very close on everything we compare
Porum, OK 74455 84%402$51,786$115,400$224 5 min shorter commute
Coalport, PA 16627 83%855$64,013$92,800— smaller
Lobelville, TN 37097 83%273$50,658$134,300$235 pricier homes ($35K more)
Old Fort, TN 37362 83%331$52,019$122,700$244 7 min shorter commute
Greenbush, ME 04418 82%1,435$60,500$135,100$208 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
French Creek, WV 26218 82%704$58,646$143,900— pricier homes ($45K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Hot Springs, NC 28743 82%459$58,011$162,800$259 pricier homes ($64K more)
Norway, SC 29113 82%497$48,857$84,200— smaller
Milan, GA 31060 82%378$49,643$80,700— 7 min longer commute
Millport, AL 35576 82%128$72,292$120,800— 6 min shorter commute
Midway, AL 36053 82%233$49,357$104,200— 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.