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 Dutton, AL 35744

Dutton: median income $54,868, home value $157,900, $99/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Branchville, SC 29432 96%307$54,826$157,900$107 older residents
Brodhead, KY 40409 96%209$52,619$123,600$107 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Bokchito, OK 74726 94%587$53,274$167,600$102 Very close on everything we compare
Rhine, GA 31077 93%242$54,688$172,600— Very close on everything we compare
Frenchburg, KY 40322 93%264$52,794$139,000$136 Very close on everything we compare
Cave City, AR 72521 93%331$59,591$146,800$97 larger
Ellaville, GA 31806 92%188$58,875$156,000$94 larger
Cottondale, FL 32431 92%265$55,293$136,200$117 larger
Sheldon, MO 64784 92%512$53,654$165,700$114 smaller
Lecompte, LA 71346 92%447$48,240$173,800— Very close on everything we compare
Hardinsburg, KY 40143 91%220$59,475$155,900$130 larger
Mount Olivet, KY 41064 91%290$51,094$158,300$118 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Bernard, LA 70085 91%400$55,167$156,600$118 larger · younger residents
Mansura, LA 71350 91%433$50,000$158,400$84 larger · younger residents
Clinton, AR 72031 91%378$54,428$127,700$119 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Dawson, TX 76639 91%651$48,514$154,400$125 Very close on everything we compare
Poca, WV 25159 90%352$56,517$160,000$117 5 min shorter commute
Stantonsburg, NC 27883 90%461$61,185$121,800$106 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Adrian, GA 31002 90%238$60,149$112,600$107 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Climax, GA 39834 90%271$47,708$153,900— 5 min shorter commute
Wickliffe, KY 42087 90%239$58,802$143,500$123 Very close on everything we compare
Brownsville, KY 42210 90%182$48,333$141,800$134 larger
Blackduck, MN 56630 90%1,010$50,333$176,900$110 older homes
Humansville, MO 65674 90%481$47,500$137,000$143 Very close on everything we compare
Rison, AR 71665 90%358$53,472$140,100$77 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.