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 Seymour, IA 52590

Seymour: median income $66,833, home value $167,600, $58/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oak Ridge, LA 71264 90%561$68,750$158,100— older residents
Rebersburg, PA 16872 88%822$72,708$199,200— pricier homes ($32K more)
Ballard, WV 24918 88%698$63,594$140,800— cheaper homes ($27K less)
Lancaster, MO 63548 88%34$66,625$163,400— older residents
Atlantic, PA 16111 87%671$70,074$162,300— older residents
Ravenwood, MO 64479 87%84$61,184$150,700— older residents
Decker, MI 48426 86%551$62,169$126,000— cheaper homes ($42K less)
Xenia, IL 62899 86%278$55,482$147,800$50 Very close on everything we compare
Middletown, MO 63359 86%143$75,227$160,200— older residents
West Edmeston, NY 13485 85%929$62,337$151,600$82 Very close on everything we compare
Loganville, WI 53943 85%247$73,000$225,600— pricier homes ($58K more) · older residents · older homes
Weir, KS 66781 85%249$58,400$109,400$77 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Burnsville, MS 38833 84%480$52,917$142,300— cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Cisne, IL 62823 84%291$59,310$119,100— cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents
Freer, TX 78357 84%937$68,000$137,500$74 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Waynetown, IN 47990 83%323$63,198$119,600$81 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Ethan, SD 57334 83%318$62,167$206,500— pricier homes ($39K more) · older homes
Castorland, NY 13620 82%929$70,087$181,800$79 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Blain, PA 17006 82%820$64,722$169,500$114 Very close on everything we compare
Norris City, IL 62869 82%317$62,159$119,500— cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · older residents
Puxico, MO 63960 82%303$57,875$146,500$67 larger · older residents
Hermon, NY 13652 81%947$67,946$102,700$81 cheaper homes ($65K less) · older residents
South New Berlin, NY 13843 81%924$79,018$175,500$65 older residents
Mulga, AL 35118 81%596$64,375$164,800$76 larger · older residents
Thomas, OK 73669 81%457$69,821$151,100$67 older residents · 6 min shorter commute

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.