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 Cove, AR 71937

Cove: median income $57,750, home value $101,400, $83/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Walstonburg, NC 27888 96%947$55,167$109,400$76 Very close on everything we compare
Maud, OK 74854 93%143$61,875$96,500$82 Very close on everything we compare
Carlisle, SC 29031 92%735$61,143$92,600$63 Very close on everything we compare
Laneville, TX 75667 92%173$61,065$105,400$73 older residents
Clinchco, VA 24226 90%701$54,191$81,300— Very close on everything we compare
North, SC 29112 90%765$50,195$91,700$109 larger
Holcomb, MS 38940 90%254$64,048$109,600— 7 min shorter commute
Flatgap, KY 41219 90%683$48,365$88,100$60 Very close on everything we compare
Pedro, OH 45659 90%714$59,844$125,100$78 Very close on everything we compare
Apple Springs, TX 75926 90%223$65,833$130,400— pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Pineland, TX 75968 90%221$53,355$89,100— older homes
Fruitland, NM 87416 90%803$49,973$94,400— larger
Waterflow, NM 87421 90%809$51,029$122,800— Very close on everything we compare
Poulan, GA 31781 89%646$52,991$110,800$123 5 min longer commute
Banks, AL 36005 89%528$47,250$107,300— Very close on everything we compare
Kilmichael, MS 39747 89%285$57,522$90,000— Very close on everything we compare
Annville, KY 40402 89%616$56,250$73,600$96 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Brooksville, KY 41004 89%643$66,176$119,100$110 larger
New Straitsville, OH 43766 89%758$65,625$108,800$70 smaller
Quinton, OK 74561 89%79$48,224$90,000$104 Very close on everything we compare
Joaquin, TX 75954 89%172$56,600$91,700— larger · 6 min shorter commute
Tenaha, TX 75974 89%171$47,292$91,300— Very close on everything we compare
Jamesville, NC 27846 88%992$55,147$99,300— Very close on everything we compare
Turbeville, SC 29162 88%822$61,979$111,800$125 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Nesmith, SC 29580 88%850$50,156$88,700$88 smaller

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.