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 Cottage Grove, TN 38224

Cottage Grove: median income $58,182, home value $130,800, $152/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Madison, MO 65263 93%297$56,211$121,000$125 larger
Bluford, IL 62814 92%140$59,462$121,300— larger
Bunch, OK 74931 91%355$56,667$125,500$160 older residents · newer homes
Hickory, MS 39332 89%280$65,286$104,900— cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Leavenworth, IN 47137 89%171$65,505$133,400$141 newer homes
Mill Creek, WV 26280 88%493$46,335$134,100$115 Very close on everything we compare
Lamar, MS 38642 88%109$59,388$143,200$162 larger · newer homes
Burnsville, MS 38833 88%103$52,917$142,300— larger
Caledonia, OH 43314 88%418$49,183$147,700$172 larger
Rutland, OH 45775 88%394$47,036$116,700— larger
Cisne, IL 62823 88%150$59,310$119,100— larger · more single-family homes
Olney Springs, CO 81062 88%860$56,250$127,300$122 larger · older homes
Lenox, GA 31637 87%454$65,391$134,500$152 larger · newer homes
Fairchild, WI 54741 87%585$62,679$166,700$176 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Leeton, MO 64761 87%326$73,750$123,800$156 larger
Berkshire, NY 13736 86%773$65,880$140,700$124 larger
Hopewell, PA 16650 86%609$62,426$157,700$132 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · older residents
Mill Creek, PA 17060 86%638$67,159$153,600$183 Very close on everything we compare
West Point, KY 40177 86%179$50,577$122,200$155 Very close on everything we compare
Greenfield, IL 62044 86%228$71,146$113,000$171 larger
Brownstown, IL 62418 86%184$58,448$134,900$130 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Agra, OK 74824 86%470$64,063$168,500$155 pricier homes ($38K more) · newer homes
Williamstown, NY 13493 85%824$63,125$121,500$176 larger · newer homes
Edwards, NY 13635 85%885$71,316$104,400— cheaper homes ($26K less)
Castle Creek, NY 13744 85%784$61,086$120,000— more homeowners · newer homes

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.