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 Lyons, IN 47443

Lyons: median income $58,274, home value $93,400, $209/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hallsboro, NC 28442 95%570$60,964$98,900$180 Very close on everything we compare
Kennedy, NY 14747 92%474$56,667$93,600$151 larger
Dawson, AL 35963 92%325$59,926$82,600$167 Very close on everything we compare
Savona, NY 14879 91%567$53,750$113,400$162 larger
Kiowa, OK 74553 91%569$59,063$124,100$146 pricier homes ($31K more)
Wellsburg, NY 14894 90%582$51,250$77,700$157 Very close on everything we compare
Wright City, OK 74766 90%553$48,750$93,800$158 Very close on everything we compare
Houlka, MS 38850 89%356$52,807$84,700— larger
Gore Springs, MS 38929 89%388$68,202$104,400$204 larger
Nortonville, KY 42442 89%125$58,190$124,500$162 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Farmington, IA 52626 89%272$59,342$105,600$160 Very close on everything we compare
Noble, IL 62868 89%63$61,645$116,300— older residents
Ridgeway, MO 64481 89%378$55,341$120,200— pricier homes ($27K more)
Harrisonburg, LA 71340 89%563$65,121$108,200— Very close on everything we compare
Barnsdall, OK 74002 89%521$66,027$125,000$203 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Weleetka, OK 74880 89%556$50,809$85,300$232 6 min longer commute
Luthersburg, PA 15848 88%465$66,250$138,100— pricier homes ($45K more)
Penfield, PA 15849 88%476$60,096$108,200$182 older residents
Grampian, PA 16838 88%471$57,917$118,400— pricier homes ($25K more)
Swanquarter, NC 27885 88%643$59,784$124,600$159 pricier homes ($31K more)
Altona, NY 12910 87%802$53,021$140,700— pricier homes ($47K more)
Richland, NY 13144 87%658$64,073$106,700$165 8 min longer commute
Weedville, PA 15868 87%481$70,395$112,200— Very close on everything we compare
Sardis, GA 30456 87%510$53,014$87,600— more apartments and townhomes
Mc Cool, MS 39108 87%420$51,938$75,400— larger · newer homes

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.