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 Mount Jackson, VA 22842

Mount Jackson: median income $60,134, home value $222,500, $247/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Pleasant Mills, PA 17853 95%161$63,787$225,900$279 smaller
South Pittsburg, TN 37380 94%468$59,304$194,500$218 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Melbourne, KY 41059 94%305$58,553$217,400$209 smaller
Milan, IN 47031 94%347$70,575$195,600$188 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Grantsburg, WI 54840 94%863$63,750$186,200$223 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Pine River, MN 56474 94%966$59,922$238,600$238 Very close on everything we compare
Montague, CA 96064 94%2,293$61,157$262,400$186 pricier homes ($40K more)
Mascot, TN 37806 93%334$59,605$221,400$202 smaller
Mount Pleasant, TN 38474 93%520$59,724$247,000$223 larger
Mineral City, OH 44656 93%188$58,852$208,700$199 smaller
Williamsburg, OH 45176 93%289$67,727$222,500$185 larger
Kalkaska, MI 49646 93%528$64,863$182,200$206 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Westfield, WI 53964 93%662$69,306$217,600$196 smaller
Weyauwega, WI 54983 93%653$71,094$229,700$251 Very close on everything we compare
Browerville, MN 56438 93%963$62,500$203,000$192 smaller
Norwood, NC 28128 92%259$53,818$222,300$226 Very close on everything we compare
Coden, AL 36523 92%793$61,607$165,900$204 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Wartburg, TN 37887 92%372$65,137$187,900$235 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Lodi, OH 44254 92%235$65,865$197,100$190 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Lawton, MI 49065 92%442$71,447$233,100$219 Very close on everything we compare
Onamia, MN 56359 92%914$59,457$232,200$223 smaller
Motley, MN 56466 92%958$61,910$237,100$252 smaller · older residents
Deer River, MN 56636 92%966$61,289$210,000$264 Very close on everything we compare
Honey Grove, TX 75446 92%1,023$52,460$238,800$240 Very close on everything we compare
Idalou, TX 79329 92%1,326$67,059$220,200$208 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.