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 Barlow, KY 42024

Barlow: median income $46,925, home value $129,800, $94/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ashland, ME 04732 92%1,246$49,479$127,700$112 Very close on everything we compare
Atkins, VA 24311 90%422$48,516$93,100$117 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Colt, AR 72326 90%170$48,728$99,200— cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579 89%524$45,944$165,600$120 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Percy, IL 62272 89%74$50,938$83,500$79 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Marmaduke, AR 72443 89%95$51,230$106,900$125 larger
Quapaw, OK 74363 89%315$55,524$113,700$103 larger
Newton, GA 39870 88%479$50,938$109,600— 6 min longer commute
Cannelton, IN 47520 88%142$50,882$162,200$99 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Oakwood, IL 61858 88%223$56,415$125,500$101 larger
Bevier, MO 63532 88%267$50,000$96,500$124 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Augusta, AR 72006 88%178$51,775$126,800$102 larger · more walkable
Brockport, PA 15823 87%625$51,125$146,100— Very close on everything we compare
Goshen, AL 36035 87%399$53,125$113,700$82 Very close on everything we compare
Appleton City, MO 64724 87%284$49,338$115,600$86 larger · younger residents
Black Rock, AR 72415 87%132$53,750$93,300$67 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Alpena, AR 72611 87%240$42,361$93,200$101 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Halifax, NC 27839 86%638$48,094$94,100$91 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Alapaha, GA 31622 86%513$51,522$104,500— cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Bridgeport, AL 35740 86%235$46,148$141,900$134 larger
Griggsville, IL 62340 86%205$43,333$99,500— cheaper homes ($30K less)
Green Castle, MO 63544 86%304$44,167$109,400— older residents · more homeowners
Walker, MO 64790 86%290$48,750$164,100$158 pricier homes ($34K more)
Labadieville, LA 70372 86%511$40,659$105,200$119 larger · 6 min longer commute
Port Leyden, NY 13433 85%850$50,806$130,900$142 younger 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.