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 Fosters, AL 35463

Fosters: median income $59,464, home value $226,000, $185/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Plymouth, ME 04969 96%1,274$61,964$207,100— Very close on everything we compare
Bluejacket, OK 74333 94%491$54,667$181,300— cheaper homes ($45K less)
Mardela Springs, MD 21837 93%766$62,880$227,400$182 larger
Etna, ME 04434 91%1,279$72,379$183,000$195 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Senecaville, OH 43780 91%586$66,080$181,300$154 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Ogema, MN 56569 90%1,060$57,434$209,500— more renters
Half Way, MO 65663 90%442$61,023$210,600$177 larger · more renters
London, AR 72847 90%356$61,158$161,200$170 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Earlsboro, OK 74840 90%542$54,191$163,200$156 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Thaxton, VA 24174 89%541$54,052$192,800$135 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Maysville, WV 26833 89%629$72,012$180,100$211 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Crab Orchard, TN 37723 89%257$60,526$167,700$181 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Gilbertsville, KY 42044 89%270$57,333$271,400$242 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Martin, MI 49070 89%663$68,750$206,500$183 older homes
Solway, MN 56678 89%1,072$73,194$202,500$243 Very close on everything we compare
Hillsboro, TN 37342 88%186$68,487$269,800$185 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Leoma, TN 38468 88%144$61,887$207,200$195 larger
Clarkrange, TN 38553 88%266$63,500$174,800$219 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Glen, MS 38846 88%131$60,078$159,500$136 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Big Prairie, OH 44611 88%606$68,809$238,300$130 Very close on everything we compare
Deford, MI 48729 88%758$60,776$211,700$132 older residents · older homes
Sears, MI 49679 88%758$62,120$180,600$197 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents · older homes
Tustin, MI 49688 88%771$63,875$188,500$157 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Vaughn, MT 59487 88%1,596$56,359$229,300$232 older homes
Winona, TX 75792 88%433$54,293$169,000$193 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 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.