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 Carbon Cliff, IL 61239

Carbon Cliff: median income $32,177, home value $99,400, $143/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kensett, AR 72082 81%438$31,638$91,000$84 larger
Sunflower, MS 38778 80%549$40,179$86,900— Very close on everything we compare
Calcium, NY 13616 71%757$45,962$144,400$182 pricier homes ($45K more) · older homes
Akron, OH 44307 68%460$27,697$85,500$95 larger · more walkable · older homes
Oil City, LA 71061 68%636$35,536$113,200$142 larger · 12 min longer commute · more homeowners
Friars Point, MS 38631 67%493$29,583$84,300— 13 min longer commute · more homeowners
Noel, MO 64854 67%407$44,490$132,800$153 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · younger residents
Drew, MS 38737 65%527$28,343$77,800— larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Edison, GA 39846 65%754$36,661$65,700— cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Ashland, MT 59003 65%843$44,833$76,400— Very close on everything we compare
New Llano, LA 71461 63%735$51,042$124,500$108 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · more homeowners
Waco, TX 76704 63%780$30,349$134,900$138 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · younger residents
Krebs, OK 74554 61%538$40,938$99,100$115 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Keams Canyon, AZ 86034 61%1,140$37,286$77,700— larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Midway, TN 37809 60%541$50,192$163,000$180 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · more homeowners
Mound Bayou, MS 38762 60%526$27,000$95,400— larger · more single-family homes
Rosedale, MS 38769 60%530$20,104$88,500— larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Tennille, GA 31089 59%724$36,094$99,300$87 larger · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Tiptonville, TN 38079 59%357$27,500$119,900$92 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Ridgely, TN 38080 59%365$30,313$82,900$77 larger · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Ashburn, GA 31714 58%772$33,287$94,200$146 larger · 10 min longer commute · more homeowners
Mission, SD 57555 58%535$40,694$84,600— larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Hatch, NM 87937 58%1,105$39,495$97,400— larger · more homeowners
New Church, VA 23415 57%827$46,836$177,800$206 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Sharpsburg, NC 27878 57%780$53,382$111,500— 9 min longer commute · more homeowners

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.