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 Elkhorn City, KY 41522

Elkhorn City: median income $37,331, home value $90,600, $104/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lynchburg, SC 29080 92%260$36,467$105,100$108 smaller
Salley, SC 29137 90%264$41,116$107,200$134 smaller
San Augustine, TX 75972 90%778$44,196$96,300— Very close on everything we compare
Magnolia, MS 39652 89%629$42,966$84,400$105 larger · younger residents
Ringgold, LA 71068 89%707$33,125$118,500$93 pricier homes ($28K more)
Springfield, SC 29146 87%269$34,318$79,600$93 smaller
Talbotton, GA 31827 87%342$34,946$75,500$86 smaller
Quinton, AL 35130 87%365$40,690$90,400$112 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Carbon Hill, AL 35549 87%372$47,818$67,400$118 Very close on everything we compare
Gueydan, LA 70542 87%769$41,971$93,500— more single-family homes
Vansant, VA 24656 86%18$43,646$95,600— smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Harts, WV 25524 86%53$40,194$89,700$74 smaller
Rembert, SC 29128 86%246$43,571$100,200$151 younger residents
Haysi, VA 24256 85%9$48,788$104,100$113 younger residents
Walton, WV 25286 85%105$45,250$106,500— smaller
Cordova, AL 35550 85%363$42,216$91,900$119 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Liberty, MS 39645 85%637$40,231$114,800$100 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Newton, TX 75966 85%787$40,087$102,900$107 younger residents
Gresham, SC 29546 84%291$32,043$97,100— smaller · younger residents
Mauk, GA 31058 84%350$40,655$85,200$157 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Abbeville, AL 36310 84%429$34,744$124,900$146 pricier homes ($34K more)
Bulls Gap, TN 37711 83%79$42,406$121,500$161 pricier homes ($31K more)
Prentiss, MS 39474 83%579$35,586$84,600$73 younger residents · more single-family homes
Groveton, TX 75845 83%843$48,333$104,600$89 smaller
Zavalla, TX 75980 83%805$45,439$94,500— smaller · 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.