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 Thermal, CA 92274

Thermal: median income $38,654, home value $163,800, $216/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Anthony, NM 88021 90%565$46,217$153,000$184 Very close on everything we compare
Crescent City, FL 32112 86%2,049$39,890$152,300$226 smaller
Newport, TN 37821 86%1,869$44,161$141,900$182 older residents
Jesup, GA 31545 85%1,991$48,302$160,000$142 Very close on everything we compare
Arcadia, FL 34266 85%2,081$50,972$171,200$184 larger · older residents
Pageland, SC 29728 84%2,035$45,250$130,900$159 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · older residents
Defuniak Springs, FL 32433 84%1,755$52,199$165,000$171 Very close on everything we compare
Ridgeland, SC 29936 83%2,030$48,986$216,800$213 pricier homes ($53K more) · newer homes
Stanton, KY 40380 83%1,831$37,734$135,100$156 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Bloomfield, NM 87413 83%510$49,869$176,000$177 6 min shorter commute
Walterboro, SC 29488 82%2,042$49,876$167,300$160 Very close on everything we compare
Palatka, FL 32177 82%2,038$47,796$165,500$171 Very close on everything we compare
Sneedville, TN 37869 81%1,864$39,331$160,100$168 smaller · more single-family homes
Whiteville, NC 28472 80%2,135$42,003$151,000$130 older residents
Loris, SC 29569 80%2,126$46,840$200,300$177 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents
Alto, GA 30510 80%1,858$52,019$207,800$182 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Century, FL 32535 80%1,689$38,618$138,200$159 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Fort Meade, FL 33841 80%2,073$39,384$170,900$199 smaller · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Wauchula, FL 33873 80%2,076$54,444$180,100$157 Very close on everything we compare
Jay, OK 74346 80%1,224$49,556$129,700$260 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Shiprock, NM 87420 80%471$36,335$103,900— cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · more renters
La Grange, NC 28551 79%2,177$49,092$131,100$157 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Claxton, GA 30417 79%1,981$53,958$144,100$157 smaller
Fort Pierce, FL 34946 79%2,160$40,315$158,300$198 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Helenwood, TN 37755 79%1,793$46,238$159,000$228 smaller

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.