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 Ruby, SC 29741

Ruby: median income $45,000, home value $117,000, $152/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Banks, AL 36005 93%381$47,250$107,300— Very close on everything we compare
Oktaha, OK 74450 93%865$50,446$122,200$149 Very close on everything we compare
Valley Head, AL 35989 91%309$43,580$94,100$162 larger · older residents
White Plains, KY 42464 91%435$45,893$104,700— Very close on everything we compare
Pullman, MI 49450 91%621$50,102$119,100$168 larger
Castor, LA 71016 91%763$41,806$114,000— Very close on everything we compare
Lapine, AL 36046 90%400$41,974$103,400$117 Very close on everything we compare
Roseland, LA 70456 90%660$47,399$116,200$230 larger
Shirley, AR 72153 90%687$50,253$131,000$161 larger
Terlton, OK 74081 90%921$52,941$124,200— Very close on everything we compare
Alberta, VA 23821 89%196$46,336$98,500$157 more renters
Lenore, WV 25676 89%242$47,639$120,200— Very close on everything we compare
Mc Intyre, GA 31054 89%217$53,929$111,500— 5 min shorter commute
Patterson, GA 31557 89%257$47,083$109,300$132 larger
Meigs, GA 31765 89%340$42,083$100,800— larger
Toone, TN 38381 89%496$51,313$110,000$134 Very close on everything we compare
Walkerville, MI 49459 89%698$55,806$108,300$146 older residents
Amity, AR 71921 89%754$54,271$109,000$132 larger
Lumber Bridge, NC 28357 88%65$49,116$88,600$161 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Bolton, NC 28423 88%110$52,250$134,100$152 larger
Garland, NC 28441 88%100$51,250$106,800$150 larger · older residents
Trafford, AL 35172 88%379$39,844$126,300$134 larger
Ariton, AL 36311 88%386$51,563$158,000— pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Courtland, MS 38620 88%556$45,539$105,800$125 larger
Sharpsburg, KY 40374 88%316$43,607$115,100$153 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.