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 Ferguson, NC 28624

Ferguson: median income $51,836, home value $202,500, $258/sq ft, 43-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grovespring, MO 65662 94%627$51,339$216,100$212 Very close on everything we compare
Branch, MI 49402 91%592$51,324$169,800$239 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more homeowners
Dunnsville, VA 22454 88%277$49,480$247,800$238 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Stahlstown, PA 15687 87%298$54,798$189,500$242 Very close on everything we compare
Ararat, VA 24053 86%59$63,646$171,900— cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · younger residents
Winkelman, AZ 85192 86%1,679$59,922$161,800— cheaper homes ($41K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Eucha, OK 74342 84%753$57,321$160,500$269 cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Round O, SC 29474 83%225$40,781$143,100$237 cheaper homes ($59K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Turners Station, KY 40075 83%264$64,375$164,000$250 cheaper homes ($39K less) · newer homes
Arkdale, WI 54613 83%708$51,528$172,400$232 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Hancock, WI 54943 83%700$62,500$207,100$250 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Fruitvale, TX 75127 83%854$60,366$216,800$172 8 min shorter commute
Trinidad, TX 75163 83%884$60,462$198,200$176 larger · newer homes
Baker, WV 26801 82%248$56,429$206,700$238 younger residents · newer homes
Ethelsville, AL 35461 82%430$47,375$174,400— cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents
Pittsburg, MO 65724 82%670$41,447$174,100$279 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Saint Joe, AR 72675 82%637$48,393$157,500$169 cheaper homes ($45K less) · newer homes
Nickelsville, VA 24271 81%72$58,625$161,500$166 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Le Roy, WV 25252 81%191$44,763$176,400$351 cheaper homes ($26K less) · newer homes
Moscow, OH 45153 81%243$57,176$226,100— larger · younger residents
Powers, MI 49874 81%733$62,500$193,900$220 7 min shorter commute
Isle, MN 56342 81%934$63,295$246,500$269 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Lonedell, MO 63060 81%543$54,926$179,500$192 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Moapa, NV 89025 81%1,841$59,777$316,800$254 pricier homes ($114K more) · newer homes
Confluence, PA 15424 80%278$56,190$152,100$175 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents · 5 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.