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 Waterflow, NM 87421

Waterflow: median income $51,029, home value $122,800, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hoboken, GA 31542 96%1,556$50,938$122,500$117 larger
Raiford, FL 32083 92%1,581$55,313$115,000$118 larger
Woodland, MS 39776 92%1,116$50,909$87,500— cheaper homes ($35K less)
Lenore, WV 25676 91%1,439$47,639$120,200— 5 min longer commute
Bolton, NC 28423 91%1,698$52,250$134,100$152 larger
Bowman, GA 30624 91%1,441$51,988$101,100$158 larger
Axson, GA 31624 91%1,519$50,903$95,200— cheaper homes ($28K less)
Banks, AL 36005 91%1,337$47,250$107,300— Very close on everything we compare
Holcomb, MS 38940 91%1,062$64,048$109,600— Very close on everything we compare
Deep Run, NC 28525 90%1,720$59,191$104,800$175 larger
Coward, SC 29530 90%1,626$44,012$116,800$125 larger · more renters
Cove, AR 71937 90%809$57,750$101,400$83 Very close on everything we compare
Flatgap, KY 41219 89%1,404$48,365$88,100$60 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Alberta, VA 23821 88%1,686$46,336$98,500$157 Very close on everything we compare
Walstonburg, NC 27888 88%1,713$55,167$109,400$76 Very close on everything we compare
Lumber Bridge, NC 28357 88%1,649$49,116$88,600$161 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Turbeville, SC 29162 88%1,613$61,979$111,800$125 larger
Patterson, GA 31557 88%1,550$47,083$109,300$132 larger
Sumner, GA 31789 88%1,458$55,720$96,300$124 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Hackleburg, AL 35564 88%1,172$44,096$98,600$121 larger
Dixons Mills, AL 36736 88%1,225$55,759$109,300— younger residents
Helenwood, TN 37755 88%1,327$46,238$159,000$228 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Dix, IL 62830 88%1,075$62,400$137,500$111 Very close on everything we compare
Goodman, MO 64843 88%781$55,492$152,700$143 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Newark, AR 72562 88%953$55,156$144,600$118 larger · 6 min shorter commute

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.