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 Ethel, MS 39067

Ethel: median income $67,250, home value $98,200, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belfast, NY 14711 94%887$65,938$100,100$90 larger
Mantee, MS 39751 93%45$74,226$95,000— newer homes
Hermon, NY 13652 92%1,094$67,946$102,700$81 larger
Buncombe, IL 62912 92%301$63,750$108,500$96 6 min shorter commute
Leeton, MO 64761 92%445$73,750$123,800$156 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Higbee, MO 65257 92%460$54,911$98,900$175 Very close on everything we compare
Scranton, KS 66537 92%526$70,000$99,800— Very close on everything we compare
Richland, NY 13144 91%1,024$64,073$106,700$165 Very close on everything we compare
Berkshire, NY 13736 91%962$65,880$140,700$124 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Castle Creek, NY 13744 91%971$61,086$120,000— Very close on everything we compare
Evansville, IL 62242 91%344$60,400$121,800$92 larger
Iuka, IL 62849 91%382$60,789$87,800$59 larger
Norman, AR 71960 91%259$66,917$117,300$319 older residents
Alex, OK 73002 91%491$69,808$105,600$66 older residents
Edwards, NY 13635 90%1,086$71,316$104,400— Very close on everything we compare
Thurman, OH 45685 90%560$61,700$115,000$190 Very close on everything we compare
Bluford, IL 62814 90%364$59,462$121,300— larger
Kinmundy, IL 62854 90%391$63,587$101,500$67 larger
Galatia, IL 62935 90%329$60,238$105,400$144 larger
Brashear, TX 75420 90%363$72,521$134,000$291 pricier homes ($36K more) · newer homes
Bernhards Bay, NY 13028 89%1,013$61,645$147,500$275 pricier homes ($49K more)
Flemington, WV 26347 89%671$61,250$112,200$221 larger
Ernul, NC 28527 89%724$74,190$120,800$244 larger
Dover, KY 41034 89%496$71,538$89,400— older residents
Fredonia, KY 42411 89%294$61,063$97,100$114 larger

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.