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 Troy, TX 76579

Troy: median income $85,480, home value $229,700, $151/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Delmar, MD 21875 93%1,327$83,665$234,500$166 Very close on everything we compare
Leesburg, OH 45135 93%957$79,629$210,000$165 Very close on everything we compare
Elk Mound, WI 54739 93%993$88,667$260,400$180 pricier homes ($31K more)
Broadway, VA 22815 92%1,164$74,899$278,700$190 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Princeton, NC 27569 92%1,141$78,850$221,700$183 larger
Saranac, MI 48881 92%1,048$78,607$226,800$188 Very close on everything we compare
Galesville, WI 54630 92%949$95,549$272,300$153 pricier homes ($43K more)
Lathrop, MO 64465 92%600$80,552$192,200$170 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Linden, NC 28356 91%1,103$72,150$225,300$151 Very close on everything we compare
Fultondale, AL 35068 91%632$73,750$195,100$147 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Ashville, OH 43103 91%998$83,291$270,200$175 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Frankfort, OH 45628 91%974$72,587$182,800$194 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Avilla, IN 46710 91%971$84,408$218,200$151 more homeowners
Rustburg, VA 24588 90%1,117$73,231$236,000$195 larger
Waddy, KY 40076 90%840$91,786$259,100$141 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Rootstown, OH 44272 90%1,126$83,173$261,300$170 pricier homes ($32K more)
Fall River, WI 53932 90%957$85,781$309,400$162 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller
Colfax, WI 54730 90%1,001$83,010$249,200$218 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, LA 70748 90%361$77,500$284,700$162 pricier homes ($55K more)
Bowdon, GA 30108 89%720$70,035$253,300$156 Very close on everything we compare
Harlem, GA 30814 89%887$74,129$237,600$141 larger
Kevil, KY 42053 89%630$80,765$174,300$135 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more homeowners
Lewisport, KY 42351 89%752$76,213$169,200$163 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Upton, KY 42784 89%780$68,699$178,100$153 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Ossian, IN 46777 89%952$72,758$201,100$170 cheaper homes ($29K less)

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.