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 Hollister, MO 65672

Hollister: median income $59,737, home value $176,700, $196/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Aransas Pass, TX 78336 94%643$58,420$214,200$183 pricier homes ($38K more)
Onalaska, TX 77360 93%414$60,402$163,700$159 Very close on everything we compare
Troy, AL 36079 92%531$59,405$177,100$166 younger residents
Claremont, NC 28610 91%677$65,722$180,900$181 Very close on everything we compare
Carrabelle, FL 32322 91%680$61,955$239,400$205 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 91%520$66,667$227,000$184 pricier homes ($50K more)
Aztec, NM 87410 91%818$55,189$193,200$196 larger
Grantville, PA 17028 90%931$59,554$163,100$210 smaller
Evington, VA 24550 90%774$69,025$221,800$219 pricier homes ($45K more)
Rockwell, NC 28138 90%718$66,896$216,100$183 pricier homes ($39K more)
Lake Wales, FL 33859 90%907$57,760$215,300$167 pricier homes ($39K more) · 6 min longer commute
Mineral Wells, WV 26150 89%663$61,786$172,500$146 Very close on everything we compare
Dobson, NC 27017 89%695$59,329$152,800$153 Very close on everything we compare
Madison, NC 27025 89%736$56,682$194,700$184 Very close on everything we compare
Wallace, NC 28466 89%866$65,558$193,300$161 older homes
Ayden, NC 28513 89%887$57,285$161,600$150 6 min longer commute
Scottsboro, AL 35769 89%426$55,687$210,700$165 pricier homes ($34K more)
Catoosa, OK 74015 89%142$74,444$231,400$168 pricier homes ($55K more)
Abingdon, VA 24210 88%621$62,734$216,000$176 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · older homes
Siler City, NC 27344 88%770$57,320$184,200$186 larger · younger residents
Bryson City, NC 28713 88%553$50,882$221,900$258 pricier homes ($45K more)
Anderson, SC 29626 88%607$56,196$171,300$194 larger
Thomson, GA 30824 88%644$60,234$174,100$152 larger
Blackshear, GA 31516 88%727$63,203$154,900$143 larger
New Tazewell, TN 37825 88%532$49,625$165,400$148 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.