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 Laurel, IN 47024

Laurel: median income $57,316, home value $153,300, $125/sq ft, 43-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Iota, LA 70543 94%755$62,083$168,000$114 Very close on everything we compare
Vestaburg, MI 48891 92%270$51,429$158,700$136 Very close on everything we compare
Otway, OH 45657 91%115$63,459$117,500$154 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Leasburg, MO 65535 91%342$56,660$139,500$173 smaller
Cadet, MO 63630 90%315$52,482$149,800$152 newer homes
Malta, OH 43758 89%176$61,397$152,900$134 8 min shorter commute
Casar, NC 28020 88%337$59,978$188,700$115 pricier homes ($35K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Corning, OH 43730 88%165$45,313$172,900$131 older residents
Stockport, OH 43787 88%180$45,880$153,000$128 Very close on everything we compare
Plymouth, IL 62367 88%311$58,000$126,700— cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Marquand, MO 63655 88%304$61,469$175,600$115 smaller · older residents
Cumberland City, TN 37050 87%253$56,927$210,000$192 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Orwell, OH 44076 87%270$52,500$162,800$164 larger
Hessmer, LA 71341 87%701$50,029$124,800$103 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min longer commute
Hubbard, TX 76648 87%837$54,669$132,000$120 older residents
Mount Nebo, WV 26679 86%254$53,459$164,900$179 smaller
Yale, MI 48097 86%280$63,659$198,700$124 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Saline, LA 71070 86%663$59,259$109,100$116 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Iron City, TN 38463 85%334$58,059$152,800$118 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Andover, OH 44003 85%284$56,429$155,200$143 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Bland, MO 65014 85%355$61,938$155,800$82 7 min shorter commute
Creswell, NC 27928 84%542$65,625$143,500$126 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Haddock, GA 31033 84%456$68,942$169,900$127 more apartments and townhomes
Sunbright, TN 37872 84%225$58,906$144,600$159 older residents
Tollesboro, KY 41189 84%109$52,712$119,400$128 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 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.