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 Ben Wheeler, TX 75754

Ben Wheeler: median income $69,815, home value $268,300, $175/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Amelia Court House, VA 23002 93%1,055$71,813$275,300$218 Very close on everything we compare
Spring City, TN 37381 91%659$56,869$230,100$158 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Maurepas, LA 70449 91%326$78,405$239,100$200 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Brooksville, FL 34602 90%838$77,215$276,400$190 Very close on everything we compare
Rogersville, AL 35652 90%507$66,798$210,200$162 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older homes
Tellico Plains, TN 37385 90%681$60,472$217,300$212 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Sparta, MO 65753 90%347$80,179$222,700$180 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Springfield, LA 70462 90%329$68,045$228,600$152 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Snow Camp, NC 27349 89%956$68,807$229,700$167 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 7 min shorter commute
New London, NC 28127 89%908$69,125$255,800$244 older homes
Maysville, GA 30558 89%708$62,417$244,300$198 Very close on everything we compare
Monticello, GA 31064 89%694$60,217$233,600$182 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Ashville, AL 35953 89%552$73,750$201,700$151 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Dover, TN 37058 89%524$58,871$215,100$167 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older homes
Petersburg, TN 37144 89%553$64,620$238,100$193 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Brandenburg, KY 40108 89%660$77,559$221,800$158 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 88%1,091$71,349$241,000$204 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · older homes
Hertford, NC 27944 88%1,128$67,938$236,900$186 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Ridgeville, SC 29472 88%891$75,325$263,100$182 larger · younger residents
Grant, AL 35747 88%559$76,420$237,000$187 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Calhoun, LA 71225 88%193$74,873$210,000$170 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Garfield, AR 72732 88%294$70,850$252,000$181 7 min shorter commute
Arizona City, AZ 85123 88%933$69,137$250,000$178 7 min shorter commute
Louisa, VA 23093 87%1,064$72,798$292,800$226 larger
Vale, NC 28168 87%839$61,220$205,000$190 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 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.