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 Dilley, TX 78017

Dilley: median income $59,808, home value $103,100, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lyons, GA 30436 95%1,032$55,827$107,700$123 larger
Lily, KY 40740 93%1,049$63,701$111,100$140 Very close on everything we compare
Norman Park, GA 31771 92%945$62,978$87,700$137 Very close on everything we compare
Canon, GA 30520 91%1,022$56,532$117,400$165 more homeowners
Hamer, SC 29547 90%1,231$55,472$95,100$144 smaller · older residents
Laurel Hill, NC 28351 89%1,226$50,156$88,200$105 Very close on everything we compare
Seven Springs, NC 28578 89%1,322$69,900$95,300$190 Very close on everything we compare
Scranton, SC 29591 89%1,199$65,000$93,300$110 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Richland, MS 39218 89%590$65,327$128,900$158 pricier homes ($26K more)
Newark, AR 72562 89%663$55,156$144,600$118 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Deep Run, NC 28525 88%1,334$59,191$104,800$175 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Oberlin, LA 70655 88%408$50,893$90,600— smaller
Saint Pauls, NC 28384 87%1,257$51,167$94,000$181 larger · 6 min longer commute
East Dublin, GA 31027 87%1,004$53,048$85,100$127 larger · 5 min longer commute
Moultrie, GA 31788 87%942$47,325$132,300$152 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Raiford, FL 32083 87%1,026$55,313$115,000$118 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Cairo, GA 39827 87%910$61,172$158,000$127 pricier homes ($55K more) · 5 min longer commute
De Queen, AR 71832 87%468$52,747$110,600$83 larger
La Grange, NC 28551 86%1,332$49,092$131,100$157 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Beech Island, SC 29842 86%1,075$57,949$126,800$176 Very close on everything we compare
Sylvester, GA 31791 86%936$61,530$101,200$114 larger · older residents
Pioneer, LA 71266 86%536$59,554$119,400$184 smaller
Moira, NY 12957 85%1,750$54,572$87,600$77 smaller
Douglas, GA 31535 85%993$65,629$144,700$153 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Forest, MS 39074 85%631$46,030$107,200$109 larger

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.