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 Athens, TX 75751

Athens: median income $70,620, home value $209,400, $156/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shippensburg, PA 17257 97%1,155$71,181$227,900$156 larger
Seymour, IN 47274 95%728$71,457$188,600$147 larger
Lake City, FL 32055 94%792$61,111$184,300$164 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Pearl, MS 39208 94%336$65,480$185,200$161 larger
Greencastle, IN 46135 94%719$73,677$225,600$143 Very close on everything we compare
Fulton, MO 65251 94%509$63,072$177,300$154 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Houma, LA 70364 94%351$68,843$191,900$145 larger
Shelby, NC 28152 93%848$57,806$205,200$158 Very close on everything we compare
Griffin, GA 30224 93%676$70,216$239,100$155 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Commerce, GA 30529 93%730$62,168$242,500$186 pricier homes ($33K more)
Clanton, AL 35045 93%538$65,907$181,500$137 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Orrville, OH 44667 93%982$75,616$208,600$166 Very close on everything we compare
Goshen, IN 46526 93%851$67,461$204,200$159 larger
Rock Springs, WY 82901 93%983$69,954$248,500$154 pricier homes ($39K more)
Petersburg, VA 23805 92%1,102$60,807$233,400$173 Very close on everything we compare
Sanford, NC 27330 92%982$61,300$242,700$160 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Nashville, NC 27856 92%1,055$66,510$194,600$162 older residents
Hickory, NC 28602 92%864$62,048$212,900$172 larger · older residents
Pell City, AL 35125 92%559$59,891$183,100$169 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
London, KY 40741 92%750$64,552$168,500$149 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Farmington, MO 63640 92%493$61,913$216,700$154 larger
Lafayette, LA 70507 92%262$64,049$212,400$137 Very close on everything we compare
Claremore, OK 74017 92%286$65,368$201,700$155 larger
Artesia, NM 88210 92%501$79,632$223,800$165 5 min shorter commute
Princess Anne, MD 21853 91%1,207$69,697$208,300$187 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.