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 Bristow, IN 47515

Bristow: median income $71,016, home value $205,700, $24/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlantic, PA 16111 87%410$70,074$162,300— cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Ballard, WV 24918 85%327$63,594$140,800— cheaper homes ($65K less) · more renters
Aaronsburg, PA 16820 81%525$83,900$263,600— pricier homes ($58K more)
Smicksburg, PA 16256 80%440$60,398$155,400— cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · younger residents
Middletown, MO 63359 80%261$75,227$160,200— cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents
Brooklyn, MS 39425 77%512$69,525$224,800— older residents · newer homes
Lovely, KY 41231 77%234$60,875$136,400— cheaper homes ($69K less) · 8 min longer commute
Castle Creek, NY 13744 76%633$61,086$120,000— cheaper homes ($86K less) · older residents
Siloam, NC 27047 75%360$71,146$214,500— older residents
Pall Mall, TN 38577 74%144$52,578$153,000— cheaper homes ($53K less) · older residents
Falkner, MS 38629 74%264$69,135$122,700— cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Holmesville, OH 44633 74%304$64,688$215,200— larger · older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Hagerman, NM 88232 74%1,049$65,000$134,700— cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · older residents
Freeport, OH 43973 73%320$72,600$158,100$31 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · older residents
Plymouth, ME 04969 72%1,008$61,964$207,100— older residents
Rebersburg, PA 16872 72%529$72,708$199,200— older residents · more renters · older homes
Olympia, KY 40358 72%162$92,143$220,000— 7 min longer commute · more renters
Bluejacket, OK 74333 72%471$54,667$181,300— older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Joseph City, AZ 86032 72%1,327$73,194$177,000— cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Decker, MI 48426 71%411$62,169$126,000— cheaper homes ($80K less) · older homes
Smithville, AR 72466 71%292$79,808$165,100$43 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Chilton, TX 76632 71%758$76,193$156,700— cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents
Fresno, OH 43824 70%303$54,757$183,700— larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Lawtons, NY 14091 69%507$82,833$236,200— pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents
Burnsville, MS 38833 69%248$52,917$142,300— cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · 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.