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 Carlin, NV 89822

Carlin: median income $60,898, home value $179,700, $178/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lawrenceville, PA 16929 93%2,007$62,813$173,300$166 more homeowners
Cromwell, IN 46732 92%1,582$58,906$174,800$166 more single-family homes
Star, NC 27356 91%1,995$55,347$164,400$152 larger
Garrison, TX 75946 91%1,346$58,177$151,800— cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Coolidge, GA 31738 90%1,913$69,950$176,900$166 Very close on everything we compare
Doerun, GA 31744 90%1,900$60,000$154,900$161 6 min longer commute
Orleans, MI 48865 90%1,593$70,039$141,900$161 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Linwood, NC 27299 89%1,955$65,621$196,500$185 larger
Mayesville, SC 29104 89%2,012$67,096$157,800$133 Very close on everything we compare
Shoshoni, WY 82649 89%447$69,375$155,100$167 smaller · more homeowners
Soap Lake, WA 98851 89%490$63,333$242,800$234 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Farmington, PA 15437 88%1,913$64,813$227,700$117 pricier homes ($48K more)
Shawsville, VA 24162 88%1,928$73,348$161,200$202 more single-family homes
Mills, WY 82644 88%523$53,750$175,900— more walkable
Lucama, NC 27851 87%2,082$66,750$161,600$180 larger
North Lewisburg, OH 43060 87%1,701$62,014$170,300$178 more single-family homes
North Freedom, WI 53951 87%1,354$71,970$190,400$182 Very close on everything we compare
Benton, MO 63736 87%1,444$59,414$168,700$154 larger
Goodman, MO 64843 87%1,199$55,492$152,700$143 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Wortham, TX 76693 87%1,254$55,645$176,100$149 7 min longer commute
Sherburne, NY 13460 86%2,080$61,587$149,000$107 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Whitney Point, NY 13862 86%2,061$63,487$139,600$136 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Piffard, NY 14533 86%1,957$68,170$184,900$138 more single-family homes
Ellerbe, NC 28338 86%2,005$58,532$156,900$152 larger · more single-family homes
Jackson, SC 29831 86%1,946$53,790$177,100$134 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.