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 Whitley City, KY 42653

Whitley City: median income $42,656, home value $109,200, $158/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bowman, SC 29018 93%317$49,167$108,000$162 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, MS 39095 90%402$43,077$91,800$174 larger
Alberta, VA 23821 89%363$46,336$98,500$157 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Pelham, NC 27311 89%277$39,044$128,200$141 6 min shorter commute
Trafford, AL 35172 89%238$39,844$126,300$134 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
English, IN 47118 89%155$41,579$119,000$192 older residents
Simmesport, LA 71369 89%579$36,856$107,600— smaller
Dodson, LA 71422 89%567$36,111$108,500— smaller
Honaker, VA 24260 88%137$46,250$95,300$141 older residents
Century, FL 32535 88%430$38,618$138,200$159 pricier homes ($29K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Ferrum, VA 24088 87%246$41,769$152,700$163 pricier homes ($44K more)
Rembert, SC 29128 87%287$43,571$100,200$151 older residents
Patterson, GA 31557 87%392$47,083$109,300$132 8 min shorter commute
Blountsville, AL 35031 87%217$54,345$141,000$165 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Altoona, AL 35952 87%208$48,361$117,500$124 larger
Midway, AL 36053 87%325$49,357$104,200— smaller
Seligman, MO 65745 87%525$52,158$124,700$174 Very close on everything we compare
Lumber Bridge, NC 28357 86%328$49,116$88,600$161 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Poulan, GA 31781 86%360$52,991$110,800$123 smaller · older residents
Flat Rock, AL 35966 86%149$43,883$149,700$192 pricier homes ($41K more) · older residents
Orwell, OH 44076 86%385$52,500$162,800$164 pricier homes ($54K more)
Washington, LA 70589 86%602$49,650$129,300$146 older residents
Zwolle, LA 71486 86%633$45,918$117,100— more apartments and townhomes
Varney, WV 25696 85%145$48,077$109,400— smaller
Cadet, MO 63630 85%356$52,482$149,800$152 pricier homes ($41K more)

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.