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 75752

Athens: median income $70,223, home value $232,900, $229/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cecilia, KY 42724 95%667$73,465$197,400$191 cheaper homes ($36K less)
West Union, SC 29696 93%755$78,468$219,100$241 Very close on everything we compare
Maiden, NC 28650 92%869$74,922$229,000$185 larger
Fennville, MI 49408 92%890$73,452$229,900$264 older homes
Afton, TN 37616 91%794$67,662$208,900$196 Very close on everything we compare
New Lisbon, WI 53950 91%862$72,768$196,700$190 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Elm City, NC 27822 90%1,055$63,703$165,600$187 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Stony Point, NC 28678 90%879$74,845$236,600$188 6 min longer commute
Estill Springs, TN 37330 90%593$70,952$213,500$226 7 min longer commute
Stuarts Draft, VA 24477 89%1,027$84,260$299,200$200 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger
Castle Hayne, NC 28429 89%1,042$72,337$239,200$214 more walkable
Jacksonville, FL 32220 89%835$81,792$254,700$172 larger
Riceville, TN 37370 89%673$61,125$222,100$198 younger residents
Telford, TN 37690 89%806$74,286$246,200$186 smaller · older residents
Alanson, MI 49706 89%1,086$76,906$248,500$235 smaller
Black Hawk, SD 57718 89%920$84,162$300,100$195 pricier homes ($67K more)
Camdenton, MO 65020 89%436$62,392$265,200$231 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Carmel, ME 04419 88%1,678$82,188$256,800$231 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Evington, VA 24550 88%1,001$69,025$221,800$219 Very close on everything we compare
Reedsville, WV 26547 88%1,025$76,084$204,000$178 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Walkertown, NC 27051 88%933$74,804$209,900$181 Very close on everything we compare
Stokesdale, NC 27357 88%944$75,287$295,000$193 pricier homes ($62K more) · 6 min longer commute
Iron Station, NC 28080 88%871$71,997$268,500$200 pricier homes ($36K more) · 9 min longer commute
Trinity, AL 35673 88%528$80,842$210,500$159 Very close on everything we compare
Rainsville, AL 35986 88%595$68,056$221,600$159 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.