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 Highlands, TX 77562

Highlands: median income $57,364, home value $217,700, $155/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bessemer City, NC 28016 94%884$57,147$222,700$183 Very close on everything we compare
Honea Path, SC 29654 94%803$58,079$166,600$149 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Elmore, AL 36025 94%548$54,414$175,700$141 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Napoleonville, LA 70390 94%240$58,667$162,900$138 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Delmar, DE 19940 93%1,259$65,024$235,300$152 Very close on everything we compare
Danielsville, GA 30633 93%751$61,901$214,200$182 Very close on everything we compare
Trenton, GA 30752 93%656$59,391$160,200$171 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Cullman, AL 35058 93%572$62,146$212,300$164 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksboro, TN 37757 93%771$63,346$212,300$185 Very close on everything we compare
Lake City, TN 37769 93%769$61,250$183,000$188 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Paoli, IN 47454 93%776$52,200$166,900$125 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Huntsville, AR 72740 93%440$63,250$194,900$198 Very close on everything we compare
Bristow, OK 74010 93%421$56,037$188,500$146 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more renters
Hurlock, MD 21643 92%1,250$67,219$230,000$183 smaller
Cleveland, NC 27013 92%926$66,301$212,400$179 Very close on everything we compare
Madison, NC 27025 92%981$56,682$194,700$184 Very close on everything we compare
Walnut Cove, NC 27052 92%970$59,024$186,700$165 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Cherryville, NC 28021 92%883$63,429$217,400$170 larger
Batesburg, SC 29006 92%839$50,379$157,500$137 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Lavonia, GA 30553 92%767$52,833$207,900$202 Very close on everything we compare
Royston, GA 30662 92%761$53,487$202,700$162 Very close on everything we compare
Athens, AL 35614 92%580$56,967$192,700$149 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Carthage, TN 37030 92%689$61,800$252,600$157 pricier homes ($35K more)
Lafayette, TN 37083 92%697$61,843$239,500$188 larger
Church Hill, TN 37642 92%849$59,484$189,200$163 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · older residents

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.