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 Geraldine, AL 35974

Geraldine: median income $52,054, home value $155,900, $97/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Worthington, WV 26591 92%473$61,071$124,000$98 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Burnsville, MS 38833 91%134$52,917$142,300— larger · 6 min longer commute
Pierpont, OH 44082 91%591$51,687$151,800$115 Very close on everything we compare
Alger, OH 45812 91%455$44,045$137,100$105 Very close on everything we compare
Belle Rive, IL 62810 91%307$57,969$117,700— cheaper homes ($38K less)
Pantego, NC 27860 90%535$62,083$145,300— Very close on everything we compare
Pleasant City, OH 43772 90%455$47,344$120,300$96 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older homes
Dorchester, WI 54425 90%770$63,424$175,000$101 Very close on everything we compare
Pierce City, MO 65723 90%483$49,695$165,100$90 larger
Unity, WI 54488 89%758$63,571$142,400$116 Very close on everything we compare
Eunice, NM 88231 89%996$51,417$128,900$122 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Ulysses, PA 16948 88%686$46,116$153,800$98 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Lyons, OH 43533 88%518$64,342$169,800$136 Very close on everything we compare
North Bloomfield, OH 44450 88%567$51,723$177,200$111 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Otwell, IN 47564 88%290$58,056$155,100$137 Very close on everything we compare
Medaryville, IN 47957 88%467$61,002$159,400$125 7 min longer commute
Fort Towson, OK 74735 88%528$57,986$156,500$116 older residents
Star City, IN 46985 87%457$59,063$170,200$95 older homes
Bertha, MN 56437 87%948$60,345$123,300$133 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Puxico, MO 63960 87%293$57,875$146,500$67 larger
Ravenwood, MO 64479 87%630$61,184$150,700— Very close on everything we compare
Crocker, MO 65452 87%427$60,350$130,500$130 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Alton, MO 65606 87%342$51,909$118,800$82 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Gracemont, OK 73042 87%698$55,556$118,900$103 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · older residents
Panama, OK 74951 87%494$49,375$124,800$126 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more renters

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.