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 Waverly, MN 55390

Waverly: median income $103,750, home value $348,300, $183/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Moreland, GA 30259 98%951$104,375$367,600$198 Very close on everything we compare
Trenton, TX 75490 96%814$92,500$361,500$190 Very close on everything we compare
Winston, GA 30187 95%924$101,702$330,100$160 larger
Kurtistown, HI 96760 95%3,870$103,286$368,700$186 Very close on everything we compare
Aylett, VA 23009 92%1,000$98,581$319,100$198 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
King William, VA 23086 92%1,008$89,583$323,400$234 Very close on everything we compare
Kimberly, AL 35091 92%868$100,375$321,300$151 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Clayton, DE 19938 91%1,016$99,596$381,000$196 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Williamson, GA 30292 91%968$87,394$327,100$179 larger
Nesbit, MS 38651 91%733$98,760$328,000$174 larger
Amanda, OH 43102 91%684$90,781$304,500$196 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Marengo, OH 43334 91%651$100,825$262,900$220 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Litchfield, OH 44253 91%659$91,500$283,300$232 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Trafalgar, IN 46181 91%559$91,337$314,300$164 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Dryden, MI 48428 91%557$100,033$311,600$204 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older homes
Sobieski, WI 54171 91%288$113,698$349,100$217 5 min shorter commute
South Mills, NC 27976 90%1,096$91,314$349,800$206 5 min shorter commute
Social Circle, GA 30025 90%958$95,757$322,100$170 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
White, GA 30184 90%892$110,694$331,800$216 larger
Bell Buckle, TN 37020 90%763$86,034$345,100$235 Very close on everything we compare
Goodells, MI 48027 90%579$90,417$273,700$181 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Kingsville, MO 64061 90%432$85,987$283,000$229 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Effort, PA 18330 89%975$93,733$291,600$183 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Woodford, VA 22580 89%978$93,603$353,800$248 Very close on everything we compare
Pleasant View, TN 37146 89%701$110,938$373,500$209 pricier homes ($25K more) · 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.