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 Charlotte, TX 78011

Charlotte: median income $29,664, home value $118,300, $146/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belle Rose, LA 70341 82%468$35,346$88,500$100 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Phyllis, KY 41554 81%1,117$29,353$80,500— cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Salt Rock, WV 25559 79%1,148$34,727$131,300$181 older residents · more renters
Ruby, SC 29741 78%1,158$45,000$117,000$152 Very close on everything we compare
Inez, KY 41224 78%1,119$38,816$92,900— cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Wallace, SC 29596 77%1,180$34,682$80,400$165 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents
Jeffersonville, GA 31044 77%947$35,152$98,300$111 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Bear Creek, AL 35543 77%742$29,196$97,200$82 smaller · more renters
Gallion, AL 36742 77%701$31,231$142,000— larger · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Tyler, AL 36785 77%743$29,619$104,700— smaller · 6 min longer commute · more renters
Stearns, KY 42647 77%985$31,927$80,600$159 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Rupert, WV 25984 76%1,212$27,183$82,100$110 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more renters
Evening Shade, AR 72532 76%648$38,750$113,100$134 more single-family homes
Meigs, GA 31765 75%888$42,083$100,800— larger
Pinetta, FL 32350 75%929$35,625$151,600$172 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents · newer homes
Orlando, KY 40460 74%1,020$35,417$69,000— cheaper homes ($49K less) · 7 min longer commute
Richland, MO 65556 74%719$38,194$108,400$146 larger · more renters · more single-family homes
Castor, LA 71016 74%407$41,806$114,000— Very close on everything we compare
Eros, LA 71238 74%450$34,018$146,100$172 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Mesquite, NM 88048 74%525$43,750$99,700$105 larger
Broxton, GA 31519 73%962$36,834$138,400— larger · older residents · more renters
Valley Head, AL 35989 73%863$43,580$94,100$162 larger · 5 min longer commute
Henry, TN 38231 73%784$37,188$88,100$120 cheaper homes ($30K less) · more renters
Anguilla, MS 38721 73%546$31,385$81,300— cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · more renters
Morgan, GA 39866 73%862$31,023$92,000— cheaper homes ($26K less) · more renters

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.