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 Germantown, KY 41044

Germantown: median income $54,406, home value $118,600, $108/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Poulan, GA 31781 90%491$52,991$110,800$123 larger · older residents
Saline, LA 71070 88%671$59,259$109,100$116 older residents · more homeowners
Apple Springs, TX 75926 88%805$65,833$130,400— Very close on everything we compare
Mill Creek, WV 26280 87%216$46,335$134,100$115 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Midway, AL 36053 87%460$49,357$104,200— larger
Irondale, MO 63648 87%368$51,765$99,500$126 older residents
Cove, AR 71937 87%646$57,750$101,400$83 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Tignall, GA 30668 86%336$49,107$119,800$109 larger · older residents · older homes
Toone, TN 38381 86%355$51,313$110,000$134 6 min shorter commute
Clinchco, VA 24226 85%137$54,191$81,300— cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Verdunville, WV 25649 85%118$53,262$113,100— older homes
Lenore, WV 25676 85%109$47,639$120,200— 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Varney, WV 25696 85%121$48,077$109,400— older residents · older homes
Walstonburg, NC 27888 85%405$55,167$109,400$76 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Nesmith, SC 29580 85%423$50,156$88,700$88 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older homes
Redfield, AR 72132 85%538$56,071$118,500$135 larger
Bloomington, TX 77951 85%1,011$49,531$133,300— larger · younger residents
Stringer, MS 39481 84%555$61,458$166,300— pricier homes ($48K more)
Seligman, MO 65745 84%563$52,158$124,700$174 larger
Agra, OK 74824 84%732$64,063$168,500$155 pricier homes ($50K more)
Saxe, VA 23967 83%316$73,264$117,500— Very close on everything we compare
Stokes, NC 27884 83%421$64,306$114,700$91 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Bowman, SC 29018 83%410$49,167$108,000$162 larger
Islandton, SC 29929 83%429$58,267$104,500— more homeowners
Honoraville, AL 36042 83%486$61,120$111,000— 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.