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 Iuka, IL 62849

Iuka: median income $60,789, home value $87,800, $59/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Maud, OK 74854 93%503$61,875$96,500$82 Very close on everything we compare
Pineland, TX 75968 93%588$53,355$89,100— Very close on everything we compare
Pennsboro, WV 26415 92%420$56,848$109,000$52 larger
Kitts Hill, OH 45645 92%336$64,632$99,800$69 Very close on everything we compare
Ethel, MS 39067 91%382$67,250$98,200— smaller
Mantee, MS 39751 91%340$74,226$95,000— Very close on everything we compare
Laneville, TX 75667 91%574$61,065$105,400$73 older residents
Castle Creek, NY 13744 90%721$61,086$120,000— pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Nauvoo, AL 35578 90%332$55,754$106,800$67 larger
Houlka, MS 38850 90%315$52,807$84,700— larger · 5 min shorter commute
Carlisle, SC 29031 89%491$61,143$92,600$63 more renters
Sweet Water, AL 36782 89%454$51,429$66,200— Very close on everything we compare
Alex, OK 73002 89%557$69,808$105,600$66 smaller
Terlton, OK 74081 89%455$52,941$124,200— pricier homes ($36K more) · newer homes
French Creek, WV 26218 88%461$58,646$143,900— pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Malone, FL 32445 88%567$61,336$104,800$62 older residents
Newville, AL 36353 88%532$66,318$121,300$77 pricier homes ($34K more)
Dover, KY 41034 88%264$71,538$89,400— smaller
Walstonburg, NC 27888 87%644$55,167$109,400$76 more renters
Rienzi, MS 38865 87%264$55,380$91,500$76 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Kilmichael, MS 39747 87%362$57,522$90,000— more renters
Scranton, KS 66537 87%376$70,000$99,800— Very close on everything we compare
Foreman, AR 71836 87%461$51,271$90,500$81 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Cove, AR 71937 87%426$57,750$101,400$83 more renters
Hattieville, AR 72063 87%319$59,643$121,200$76 pricier homes ($33K more) · 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.