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 Lexington, KY 40516

Lexington: median income $84,510, home value $264,100, $181/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fair Grove, MO 65648 95%482$86,850$247,200$152 larger
Vass, NC 28394 94%344$79,643$300,800$185 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Wade, NC 28395 94%371$84,375$263,000$166 Very close on everything we compare
Cohasset, MN 55721 94%791$86,429$302,300$221 pricier homes ($38K more)
Hallsville, MO 65255 94%431$83,900$262,200$201 larger
Arnoldsville, GA 30619 93%295$78,250$230,100$182 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Winterville, GA 30683 93%289$88,198$273,600$196 larger
Washington, OK 73093 93%755$96,719$315,300$184 pricier homes ($51K more)
Pinebluff, NC 28373 92%339$81,538$224,400$199 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Athens, IL 62613 92%315$86,675$200,900$141 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Auburn, KS 66402 92%623$88,427$260,900$154 6 min shorter commute
Jones, OK 73049 92%735$94,891$261,500$221 larger
Sperry, OK 74073 92%651$87,045$271,100$171 larger
Eden, MD 21822 91%473$84,479$277,700$189 more apartments and townhomes
Weyers Cave, VA 24486 91%295$80,990$284,000$232 5 min shorter commute
Maidsville, WV 26541 91%261$73,444$236,400$163 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Rabun Gap, GA 30568 91%221$75,948$273,400$218 Very close on everything we compare
Nashport, OH 43830 91%183$88,346$234,100$186 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Arcadia, IN 46030 91%172$90,536$246,000$179 older homes
Santa Claus, IN 47579 91%140$87,926$258,300$161 Very close on everything we compare
Ixonia, WI 53036 91%416$92,674$352,300$200 pricier homes ($88K more)
New London, MN 56273 91%740$90,122$320,100$170 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Byron, IL 61010 91%383$93,613$235,000$147 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Breese, IL 62230 91%283$91,350$229,300$153 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Highlandville, MO 65669 91%494$86,932$243,800$162 Very close on everything we compare

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.