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 Sparta, KY 41086

Sparta: median income $61,824, home value $168,800, $137/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wellington, AL 36279 95%343$53,024$159,100$131 Very close on everything we compare
Thaxton, VA 24174 94%300$54,052$192,800$135 Very close on everything we compare
Macks Creek, MO 65786 94%441$61,136$162,100$125 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Hermon, LA 70450 94%618$61,333$200,000— pricier homes ($31K more)
Ochelata, OK 74051 94%624$67,841$178,300$152 Very close on everything we compare
Marquez, TX 77865 94%824$67,114$187,100$157 Very close on everything we compare
Ariton, AL 36311 93%496$51,563$158,000— Very close on everything we compare
Agra, OK 74824 93%687$64,063$168,500$155 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Wister, OK 74966 93%606$56,331$140,300$143 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Eastover, SC 29044 92%406$57,297$135,200$152 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Lenox, GA 31637 92%522$65,391$134,500$152 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older homes
Danville, AL 35619 92%325$65,863$168,800$154 larger
Hillsboro, AL 35643 92%309$59,076$124,200$142 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Leesburg, AL 35983 92%317$63,793$174,300$187 larger
Cowarts, AL 36321 92%520$64,267$177,700$152 Very close on everything we compare
Blue Springs, MS 38828 92%370$65,025$158,900$161 larger
Benton, MS 39039 92%508$60,175$145,000$143 Very close on everything we compare
Moselle, MS 39459 92%560$53,581$155,900$116 larger
Paris, MI 49338 92%350$69,375$161,900$148 Very close on everything we compare
Conway, MO 65632 92%438$57,656$212,400$160 pricier homes ($44K more)
Emerson, AR 71740 92%606$65,455$168,300$149 6 min shorter commute
Orange Grove, TX 78372 92%1,059$52,237$161,900$143 larger
Williamstown, NY 13493 91%568$63,125$121,500$176 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Glade Hill, VA 24092 91%303$64,388$222,900$132 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Salemburg, NC 28385 91%436$66,860$145,800$189 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.