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 Jack, AL 36346

Jack: median income $56,458, home value $151,800, $115/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Freedom, NY 14065 98%863$61,058$163,200$115 Very close on everything we compare
Sandyville, WV 25275 94%563$64,632$164,600— Very close on everything we compare
Glen, MS 38846 94%270$60,078$159,500$136 Very close on everything we compare
Macks Creek, MO 65786 94%594$61,136$162,100$125 Very close on everything we compare
Horatio, AR 71842 94%511$55,810$175,500$122 Very close on everything we compare
French Creek, WV 26218 93%601$58,646$143,900— larger
Mount Olivet, KY 41064 93%493$51,094$158,300$118 Very close on everything we compare
Sterling, MI 48659 93%870$58,750$146,200$137 larger
Brownstown, IL 62418 93%540$58,448$134,900$130 Very close on everything we compare
Bokoshe, OK 74930 93%567$55,526$134,600$127 Very close on everything we compare
Altona, NY 12910 92%1,135$53,021$140,700— Very close on everything we compare
Berkshire, NY 13736 92%917$65,880$140,700$124 Very close on everything we compare
Spencer, VA 24165 92%486$49,250$120,500$121 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Thaxton, VA 24174 92%538$54,052$192,800$135 pricier homes ($41K more)
Walkerville, MI 49459 92%843$55,806$108,300$146 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Emmet, AR 71835 92%458$56,483$121,900— cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Fort Towson, OK 74735 92%565$57,986$156,500$116 more renters
Soper, OK 74759 92%590$54,219$133,500— Very close on everything we compare
Castle Creek, NY 13744 91%923$61,086$120,000— cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents
Woodhull, NY 14898 91%865$58,824$121,400$95 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Hiwassee, VA 24347 91%481$55,156$159,600$172 Very close on everything we compare
Boaz, KY 42027 91%400$58,056$194,200$102 pricier homes ($42K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Wickliffe, KY 42087 91%412$58,802$143,500$123 5 min longer commute
Mesick, MI 49668 91%887$57,583$162,100$142 larger
Bluford, IL 62814 91%495$59,462$121,300— cheaper homes ($31K less)

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.