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 Hickory, KY 42051

Hickory: median income $76,000, home value $162,800, $141/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Buffalo, WV 25033 95%387$81,761$142,400$131 Very close on everything we compare
Wright, WY 82732 91%1,004$78,355$239,400— pricier homes ($77K more)
Barton, NY 13734 90%747$63,523$132,700$121 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Quitman, LA 71268 90%386$69,018$154,500$104 Very close on everything we compare
Blanket, TX 76432 90%676$69,688$216,700$147 pricier homes ($54K more)
Vernon Center, NY 13477 89%817$71,111$137,500$121 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more renters
Middlebourne, WV 26149 89%460$71,786$159,900$138 older homes
Hartsfield, GA 31756 89%473$77,375$116,100$159 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Saint John, ND 58369 89%1,004$68,235$135,000— cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Harpursville, NY 13787 88%785$66,222$132,500$107 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Woodland, PA 16881 88%626$66,458$113,300$124 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older homes
Pembroke, VA 24136 88%447$70,854$183,300$143 Very close on everything we compare
Davisville, WV 26142 88%424$62,941$113,200$130 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Waverly, WV 26184 88%432$62,550$165,600$133 Very close on everything we compare
Salesville, OH 43778 88%452$65,556$187,500$120 smaller
Otisco, IN 47163 88%202$59,837$211,300$175 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Livonia, LA 70755 88%465$86,071$192,200$152 pricier homes ($29K more)
Ninnekah, OK 73067 88%535$63,603$129,000$145 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents
Bradley, ME 04411 87%1,182$76,667$201,800$152 pricier homes ($39K more) · younger residents
Wysox, PA 18854 87%739$77,917$207,300$143 pricier homes ($45K more) · more renters
Reedsville, WV 26547 87%515$76,084$204,000$178 pricier homes ($41K more)
Hodges, SC 29653 87%404$64,722$136,000$184 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Hope Hull, AL 36043 87%345$73,571$195,800$125 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Wildersville, TN 38388 87%76$59,519$205,200$130 pricier homes ($42K more)
Ovett, MS 39464 87%372$71,875$154,600$115 Very close on everything we compare

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.