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 Centertown, KY 42328

Centertown: median income $57,679, home value $97,200, $27/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hickory, MS 39332 94%369$65,286$104,900— larger
Bluford, IL 62814 93%116$59,462$121,300— Very close on everything we compare
Castle Creek, NY 13744 89%677$61,086$120,000— Very close on everything we compare
Julian, WV 25529 88%285$55,769$83,600$29 Very close on everything we compare
Ethel, MS 39067 88%327$67,250$98,200— Very close on everything we compare
West, MS 39192 88%330$48,750$90,200— Very close on everything we compare
Hermitage, AR 71647 88%401$50,441$85,000$38 Very close on everything we compare
Jamesville, NC 27846 87%572$55,147$99,300— larger
Lodge Grass, MT 59050 87%1,184$62,500$112,500— 7 min shorter commute
Apple Springs, TX 75926 87%624$65,833$130,400— pricier homes ($33K more) · newer homes
Pineland, TX 75968 86%582$53,355$89,100— larger · older residents
Clinchco, VA 24226 85%257$54,191$81,300— larger
Burnsville, MS 38833 85%190$52,917$142,300— pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Kilmichael, MS 39747 85%311$57,522$90,000— older residents
Mantee, MS 39751 84%282$74,226$95,000— Very close on everything we compare
Cisne, IL 62823 84%109$59,310$119,100— larger · more single-family homes
Hagerman, NM 88232 84%1,020$65,000$134,700— pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Banks, AL 36005 83%391$47,250$107,300— older residents
Dixons Mills, AL 36736 83%371$55,759$109,300— more apartments and townhomes
Benoit, MS 38725 83%345$47,115$80,700— older residents
Rutland, OH 45775 83%288$47,036$116,700— older homes
Edwards, NY 13635 82%776$71,316$104,400— older homes
Islandton, SC 29929 82%463$58,267$104,500— more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Woodland, MS 39776 82%273$50,909$87,500— newer homes
Fruitland, NM 87416 82%1,179$49,973$94,400— larger

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.