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 Gadsden, TN 38337

Gadsden: median income $63,575, home value $187,100, $149/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Snook, TX 77878 90%567$60,417$207,000— younger residents
New Franklin, MO 65274 89%304$69,833$158,100$139 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Stratton, CO 80836 89%783$65,208$217,800$131 pricier homes ($31K more)
Oakland, KY 42159 88%174$66,756$264,400$159 pricier homes ($77K more)
Farmland, IN 47340 88%371$63,205$175,200$139 larger
Melbourne, IA 50162 88%479$71,417$176,600$135 Very close on everything we compare
Smithton, MO 65350 88%301$60,509$198,300$135 newer homes
Bronte, TX 76933 88%702$55,104$157,500$132 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Liberty, PA 16930 87%754$71,111$197,800— more homeowners
Paris, OH 44669 87%548$82,411$202,100$153 older homes
King City, MO 64463 87%422$59,219$160,800$105 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more walkable
Ector, TX 75439 87%441$64,500$155,400$166 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Coleman, WI 54112 86%644$71,141$186,000$180 larger
Soldiers Grove, WI 54655 86%534$56,010$220,900$138 pricier homes ($34K more) · more homeowners
Edgemont, SD 57735 86%943$71,576$165,600— Very close on everything we compare
Pleasantville, OH 43148 85%451$72,072$242,000$202 pricier homes ($55K more)
La Farge, WI 54639 85%547$61,375$209,700$130 larger
Grove City, MN 56243 85%713$71,528$178,900$126 more homeowners
Ironton, MN 56455 85%783$73,214$222,600$163 pricier homes ($36K more) · more walkable
Rossville, KS 66533 85%447$62,237$195,100$146 7 min shorter commute
Oak Ridge, LA 71264 85%269$68,750$158,100— cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Lacona, NY 13083 84%875$71,667$139,900$141 cheaper homes ($47K less) · more homeowners
Lodi, NY 14860 84%802$78,170$165,500$111 Very close on everything we compare
Hustontown, PA 17229 84%666$70,313$201,600$144 more homeowners
Paint Lick, KY 40461 84%283$71,212$201,800$148 larger · more homeowners

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.