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 Stapleton, AL 36578

Stapleton: median income $53,490, home value $213,900, $228/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chester, AR 72934 91%504$59,282$177,100$266 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents
Evensville, TN 37332 89%372$59,479$188,000$198 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Scott, AR 72142 89%371$62,863$196,900$179 larger
Zionville, NC 28698 86%518$54,402$219,400$264 larger · younger residents
Wolverine, MI 49799 86%1,019$58,235$184,600$203 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Mountain, WI 54149 86%999$50,250$207,500$245 Very close on everything we compare
Cedarville, AR 72932 84%508$59,740$165,000— cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · younger residents
Goldston, NC 27252 83%590$50,435$171,600$189 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older homes
Union Mills, NC 28167 83%469$59,732$234,500$217 larger
Athelstane, WI 54104 83%1,014$56,286$171,300$245 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents · older homes
Edwards, MO 65326 83%598$51,888$181,100$203 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · older homes
North Haverhill, NH 03774 82%1,260$58,452$227,900$192 more walkable · older homes
Nunnelly, TN 37137 82%355$55,893$153,800$208 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Irons, MI 49644 82%928$54,013$175,400$175 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Arkdale, WI 54613 82%927$51,528$172,400$232 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Deepwater, MO 64740 82%619$61,641$147,300$167 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Frenchville, PA 16836 81%892$62,841$131,700$210 cheaper homes ($82K less) · older homes
Danbury, NC 27016 81%587$57,273$177,300$176 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · younger residents
Washington, ME 04574 80%1,369$59,861$195,200$173 larger · younger residents
Lowgap, NC 27024 80%565$62,813$188,600$191 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · more renters
Duck River, TN 38454 80%346$61,914$176,100$271 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more renters
Grimsley, TN 38565 80%413$51,635$196,600$199 younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Trego, WI 54888 80%1,073$63,971$240,500$249 pricier homes ($27K more)
Bigfork, MN 56628 80%1,215$61,250$244,700$189 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · more renters
Pittsburg, NH 03592 79%1,330$61,094$279,500$293 pricier homes ($66K more)

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.