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 Paulden, AZ 86334

Paulden: median income $78,723, home value $321,400, $215/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Talking Rock, GA 30175 89%1,587$69,737$332,700$244 younger residents
Frederica, DE 19946 85%2,050$80,459$302,800$201 younger residents
Bracey, VA 23919 84%1,922$66,750$300,000$203 smaller
Mims, FL 32754 83%1,901$75,364$271,300$229 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Cropwell, AL 35054 83%1,498$77,929$347,700$211 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Corsicana, TX 75109 83%951$88,074$258,400$244 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Chattaroy, WA 99003 83%923$77,129$428,200$246 pricier homes ($107K more) · younger residents · older homes
Jackson Springs, NC 27281 82%1,849$74,547$292,400$193 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Catawba, SC 29704 82%1,783$74,303$243,800$240 cheaper homes ($78K less) · younger residents
Elkton, FL 32033 82%1,841$86,185$330,600$214 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Punta Gorda, FL 33955 82%1,891$76,943$376,200$188 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Alba, TX 75410 82%983$73,934$222,900$170 cheaper homes ($99K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Larue, TX 75770 82%994$83,542$239,200$179 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Bolivia, NC 28422 81%1,948$69,412$295,200$195 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Appling, GA 30802 81%1,723$85,625$322,000$215 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Grand Island, FL 32735 81%1,847$68,441$273,300$166 cheaper homes ($48K less) · younger residents
Punta Gorda, FL 33982 81%1,887$72,443$314,700$195 larger
Vonore, TN 37885 81%1,595$78,793$335,100$270 larger · more renters
Stockton Springs, ME 04981 80%2,380$77,560$239,000$223 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller · younger residents
Woodleaf, NC 27054 80%1,791$92,560$212,300$182 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller · younger residents
Crouse, NC 28033 80%1,756$78,458$224,000$234 cheaper homes ($97K less) · more single-family homes
Elberta, AL 36530 80%1,482$63,393$280,100$208 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · younger residents
Brookfield, MA 01506 79%2,217$81,250$341,900$267 older homes
Alburgh, VT 05440 79%2,179$76,429$268,300$199 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · older homes
Boydton, VA 23917 79%1,907$73,965$201,600$187 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller · more single-family 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.