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 Sharon, TN 38255

Sharon: median income $45,990, home value $110,400, $72/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Appleton City, MO 64724 96%315$49,338$115,600$86 Very close on everything we compare
Princeton, ME 04668 93%1,268$48,720$117,700— younger residents
Mc Crory, AR 72101 93%148$50,921$105,100— Very close on everything we compare
Red Bay, AL 35582 92%130$48,235$117,900$64 larger
Erie, KS 66733 92%366$52,667$147,200$67 pricier homes ($37K more)
Medford, OK 73759 92%494$51,705$104,300$68 smaller
Albany, MO 64402 91%406$54,444$111,900— Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, KS 66725 91%341$48,443$105,000$73 larger
Hartshorne, OK 74547 91%390$45,521$116,000$108 Very close on everything we compare
Brasher Falls, NY 13613 90%947$58,846$116,600$83 Very close on everything we compare
Guin, AL 35563 90%166$52,576$116,900$91 larger
Farmersburg, IN 47850 90%222$54,050$104,400$83 Very close on everything we compare
Griggsville, IL 62340 90%261$43,333$99,500— Very close on everything we compare
Saint Elmo, IL 62458 90%193$48,810$109,800$76 Very close on everything we compare
Kahoka, MO 63445 90%329$48,370$109,100$91 larger
Shelbina, MO 63468 90%295$45,882$100,600$91 Very close on everything we compare
Shinglehouse, PA 16748 89%694$61,250$104,000$71 Very close on everything we compare
Logan, WV 25601 89%394$47,333$94,900$82 larger
Eupora, MS 39744 89%188$44,548$121,100— larger · newer homes
South Shore, KY 41175 89%366$42,419$101,800$91 larger
Bismarck, MO 63624 89%142$41,984$90,400$68 larger · 6 min longer commute
Ellington, MO 63638 89%136$55,257$137,500$76 pricier homes ($27K more)
Brunswick, MO 65236 89%321$46,806$98,800$62 smaller · older homes
Rector, AR 72461 89%79$53,893$99,300$88 larger
Snyder, OK 73566 89%579$42,135$106,400$56 smaller

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.