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 Elrod, AL 35458

Elrod: median income $64,688, home value $174,500, $144/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dudley, GA 31022 92%277$63,875$195,700$160 larger
Pilot, VA 24138 90%497$62,400$235,700$130 pricier homes ($61K more) · 5 min longer commute
Towanda, KS 67144 90%605$73,589$173,500$140 larger
Benton, MS 39039 89%147$60,175$145,000$143 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Woodlawn, IL 62898 89%362$74,297$158,800$121 larger
Symsonia, KY 42082 88%255$67,000$223,200$134 pricier homes ($49K more) · younger residents
Bailey, MS 39320 87%77$70,852$170,200— larger
Smithton, MO 65350 87%477$60,509$198,300$135 older homes
Caddo, OK 74729 87%490$56,696$161,400$130 larger · older homes
Arnoldsville, GA 30619 86%266$78,250$230,100$182 pricier homes ($56K more)
Glen, MS 38846 86%118$60,078$159,500$136 larger · older homes
Mayslick, KY 41055 86%425$64,967$218,500$93 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Cutler, OH 45724 86%541$58,500$149,200$167 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older residents · older homes
Shevlin, MN 56676 86%1,058$74,167$209,600$151 pricier homes ($35K more) · older homes
Pittsburg, IL 62974 86%319$64,107$199,100$144 older homes
London, AR 72847 86%345$61,158$161,200$170 larger · older homes
Blossom, TX 75416 86%438$75,735$202,500$132 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Stetson, ME 04488 85%1,279$76,023$205,700$138 pricier homes ($31K more) · 6 min longer commute
Fancy Farm, KY 42039 85%250$70,726$143,200$136 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older homes
Stonewall, OK 74871 85%510$70,838$177,800$145 larger · older homes
Brooks, ME 04921 84%1,266$63,646$210,300$200 pricier homes ($36K more) · older homes
Whitesville, KY 42378 84%310$73,419$181,400$146 larger · older homes
Wilson, MI 49896 84%858$56,167$164,800$163 older homes
Ogema, MN 56569 84%1,047$57,434$209,500— pricier homes ($35K more) · older homes
Macks Creek, MO 65786 84%436$61,136$162,100$125 larger · older homes

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.