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 Rush, KY 41168

Rush: median income $84,338, home value $150,500, $123/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Downsville, LA 71234 94%667$84,740$155,500$117 Very close on everything we compare
Welsh, LA 70591 92%800$78,393$159,100$111 larger · older residents
Fultonville, NY 12072 90%542$81,063$190,200$109 pricier homes ($40K more)
Braxton, MS 39044 90%596$74,417$163,500$131 older residents
Geronimo, OK 73543 89%908$86,667$117,100$138 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Frost, TX 76641 88%902$81,094$166,300$85 Very close on everything we compare
Wilmer, AL 36587 87%607$72,657$161,800$139 larger
Underwood, IN 47177 87%165$83,542$145,700$180 smaller
Ava, IL 62907 87%366$84,293$161,900$94 smaller
Hastings, NY 13076 86%490$95,889$176,400$148 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Shady Spring, WV 25918 86%102$79,323$181,600$135 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents
Falkner, MS 38629 86%419$69,135$122,700— cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Hardinsburg, IN 47125 86%194$73,421$169,500$142 smaller
Anacoco, LA 71403 86%777$67,929$158,800$130 older residents
Elm Mott, TX 76640 86%932$66,641$166,900$149 Very close on everything we compare
Natalia, TX 78059 86%1,116$74,940$184,100$188 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Vance, AL 35490 85%436$87,813$199,200$160 pricier homes ($49K more)
Stonefort, IL 62987 85%323$83,393$112,600$102 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · older residents
Foley, MO 63347 85%436$81,949$172,000$142 7 min longer commute
Itasca, TX 76055 85%915$80,025$197,300$152 pricier homes ($47K more) · older residents
Winnie, TX 77665 85%884$78,590$169,900$149 larger · more renters
Rural Retreat, VA 24368 84%127$73,614$170,100$131 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Clanton, AL 35046 84%429$79,286$170,300$167 older residents
Steele, AL 35987 84%359$78,906$181,600$165 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents
Paragon, IN 46166 84%220$86,042$157,500$144 older residents

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.