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 Branson, MO 65616

Branson: median income $60,489, home value $268,900, $186/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hendersonville, NC 28792 90%611$55,522$278,500$223 Very close on everything we compare
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 90%834$50,955$299,900$224 pricier homes ($31K more)
Brunswick, GA 31525 88%767$69,493$216,300$186 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more single-family homes
Goldsboro, NC 27534 87%860$62,574$208,000$160 cheaper homes ($61K less) · more single-family homes
Evansville, IN 47715 87%329$60,897$210,600$152 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older homes
Greensboro, NC 27407 86%746$59,427$223,900$179 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 86%405$62,301$234,000$154 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · younger residents
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 86%1,034$61,580$228,000$175 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more single-family homes
Dover, DE 19904 85%976$66,908$309,400$182 pricier homes ($41K more) · more single-family homes
Ocala, FL 34474 85%823$65,291$235,300$160 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more renters
Clinton Township, MI 48038 85%684$78,567$265,500$166 larger · 5 min longer commute
Sherman, TX 75092 85%283$68,036$279,500$158 more single-family homes
Ephrata, PA 17522 84%953$74,828$285,200$189 older homes
Bloomington, IN 47403 84%401$70,582$239,700$185 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Minot, ND 58701 84%897$73,269$277,800$144 younger residents · older homes
Longview, TX 75605 84%297$73,190$252,300$160 more single-family homes
Las Cruces, NM 88005 84%827$54,452$220,800$168 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older homes
Burlington, NC 27215 83%766$68,825$259,900$177 larger · more single-family homes · older homes
Seneca, SC 29678 83%594$52,550$225,500$178 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more single-family homes
Dalton, GA 30720 83%482$69,369$249,800$146 more single-family homes · older homes
Augusta, GA 30909 83%668$71,364$242,400$155 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Savannah, GA 31419 83%757$69,635$257,300$178 larger
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 83%576$65,342$321,200$251 pricier homes ($52K more) · older homes
Sanford, FL 32773 83%883$70,442$287,700$210 7 min longer commute
Vero Beach, FL 32960 83%975$54,682$280,000$211 older homes

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.