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 Murray, IA 50174

Murray: median income $67,250, home value $132,400, $122/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ballard, WV 24918 91%746$63,594$140,800— Very close on everything we compare
Harrisonville, PA 17228 90%836$67,438$172,000$114 pricier homes ($40K more) · older residents
Spartansburg, PA 16434 89%740$59,420$145,300$113 larger
Dayton, PA 16222 87%765$64,688$158,400$138 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Worthington, WV 26591 87%728$61,071$124,000$98 7 min shorter commute
Medaryville, IN 47957 87%368$61,002$159,400$125 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Atlanta, MO 63530 87%110$72,500$150,600$167 Very close on everything we compare
Daisetta, TX 77533 87%756$65,557$118,500$107 older residents · more renters
North Lawrence, NY 12967 86%1,007$75,781$89,000$123 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Panama, NY 14767 86%751$67,607$143,500$156 larger · older residents
Atlantic, PA 16111 86%710$70,074$162,300— pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents
Blain, PA 17006 86%862$64,722$169,500$114 pricier homes ($37K more) · more renters
Hardinsburg, IN 47125 86%443$73,421$169,500$142 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · older residents
Hillsboro, IN 47949 86%363$76,429$118,800$112 older residents · older homes
Decker, MI 48426 86%581$62,169$126,000— Very close on everything we compare
Smicksburg, PA 16256 85%771$60,398$155,400— larger · younger residents
Greenwood, WI 54437 85%306$67,097$158,500$116 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older residents
Verndale, MN 56481 85%381$73,295$167,700$141 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · older residents
Roff, OK 74865 85%471$65,000$132,900$117 larger · older residents
West Edmeston, NY 13485 84%964$62,337$151,600$82 older residents
Castle Creek, NY 13744 84%934$61,086$120,000— older residents
Stokes, NC 27884 84%974$64,306$114,700$91 larger · newer homes
Lancaster, MO 63548 84%83$66,625$163,400— pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents · older homes
Madison, MO 65263 84%142$56,211$121,000$125 older residents
Crocker, MO 65452 84%232$60,350$130,500$130 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.