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 Milan, NM 87021

Milan: median income $40,129, home value $128,100, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vernon, AL 35592 95%1,130$45,526$119,900$102 larger
Celina, TN 38551 91%1,255$39,821$116,700$244 larger
Norton, VA 24273 90%1,413$41,978$109,300$89 larger
Sulligent, AL 35586 89%1,126$38,286$115,300$89 Very close on everything we compare
Salt Rock, WV 25559 88%1,432$34,727$131,300$181 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Mc Rae Helena, GA 31055 88%1,450$45,885$143,100$94 larger
Stevenson, AL 35772 88%1,245$39,313$143,500$137 more single-family homes
Brundidge, AL 36010 88%1,292$41,503$110,100$84 larger
Elliston, VA 24087 87%1,543$41,204$155,100$172 pricier homes ($27K more) · newer homes
Linden, AL 36748 87%1,169$42,826$93,700$64 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Ola, AR 72853 87%829$35,262$98,100$108 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Richlands, VA 24641 85%1,457$35,531$107,600$96 larger · 5 min longer commute
Blackville, SC 29817 85%1,521$41,579$84,300$21 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 5 min longer commute
Fort Pierce, FL 34946 84%1,702$40,315$158,300$198 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Jellico, TN 37762 84%1,331$42,392$143,000$110 older residents
Mount Hope, WV 25880 83%1,488$36,264$112,400$131 larger · younger residents
Grifton, NC 28530 83%1,712$37,361$151,300$178 larger · 5 min longer commute
Elk Park, NC 28622 83%1,453$44,028$169,900$199 pricier homes ($42K more) · more single-family homes
Pamplico, SC 29583 83%1,606$34,931$114,100$154 larger
Sparks, GA 31647 83%1,436$52,396$147,500$57 Very close on everything we compare
Pelham, GA 31779 83%1,398$47,530$112,000$91 larger
Sneads, FL 32460 83%1,363$51,497$116,400$117 larger
Hagerhill, KY 41222 83%1,399$40,859$105,100$81 older residents
Mansfield, LA 71052 83%844$38,509$109,400$68 larger · more single-family homes
Warrenton, NC 27589 82%1,662$46,730$115,300$129 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.