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 Horse Cave, KY 42749

Horse Cave: median income $45,500, home value $142,200, $152/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Moorefield, WV 26836 95%396$47,770$151,100$159 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeport, AL 35740 95%155$46,148$141,900$134 Very close on everything we compare
Winona, MO 65588 94%300$44,500$155,900$158 smaller
Talihina, OK 74571 94%537$41,105$125,400$142 Very close on everything we compare
Parksley, VA 23421 92%563$52,759$188,500$181 pricier homes ($46K more)
Chase City, VA 23924 92%410$44,291$146,900$122 6 min longer commute
Independence, VA 24348 92%264$44,829$155,500$173 Very close on everything we compare
Petersburg, WV 26847 92%388$52,139$180,400$162 pricier homes ($38K more)
Johnston, SC 29832 92%327$42,500$130,600$127 Very close on everything we compare
Gurdon, AR 71743 92%467$48,253$132,200$151 smaller
Cowpens, SC 29330 91%271$48,243$151,800$163 larger
Ravenswood, WV 26164 90%255$45,104$137,300$142 larger
Halls, TN 38040 90%216$49,833$148,800$136 younger residents
Cabool, MO 65689 90%343$44,231$169,300$110 pricier homes ($27K more)
Dexter, ME 04930 89%1,017$54,137$168,600$136 pricier homes ($26K more) · 5 min longer commute
Marion, VA 24354 89%241$44,502$158,100$119 larger
Ronceverte, WV 24970 89%299$44,118$120,800$190 more homeowners
Elk Park, NC 28622 89%228$44,028$169,900$199 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Jonesville, NC 28642 89%290$44,543$144,500$201 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Grove Hill, AL 36451 89%394$54,417$152,400$124 more homeowners
Austin, IN 47102 89%108$41,583$129,900$129 larger · 6 min longer commute
Houston, MO 65483 89%334$46,663$126,200$143 younger residents
Antlers, OK 74523 89%583$47,702$130,100$128 younger residents
Walsenburg, CO 81089 89%1,036$52,280$191,800$154 pricier homes ($50K more)
Troy, TN 38260 88%191$49,139$122,000$135 more homeowners

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.