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 Carbondale, IL 62903

Carbondale: median income $46,818, home value $170,000, $106/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vermillion, SD 57069 76%536$53,327$231,200$142 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
California, PA 15419 71%531$43,813$126,000$110 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Troy, AL 36081 71%447$44,375$198,800$113 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Clarion, PA 16214 68%582$57,521$171,600$107 larger · more single-family homes · more walkable
Kalamazoo, MI 49006 67%373$43,639$208,600$159 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Weatherford, OK 73096 67%543$59,138$248,600$134 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Marion, MS 39342 65%364$45,298$187,300— 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes · newer homes
Stillwater, OK 74075 65%443$46,053$228,100$161 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Commerce, TX 75428 64%482$51,424$162,500$127 larger · more single-family homes
Nacogdoches, TX 75965 64%511$55,291$244,500$151 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · older residents
Keene, TX 76059 64%583$51,401$237,900$163 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · older residents
Central, SC 29630 63%414$55,264$234,500$173 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64136 63%293$51,867$190,200$157 smaller · older residents
Evans Mills, NY 13637 62%829$57,103$176,200$142 larger
Houghton, MI 49931 62%654$50,408$232,800$162 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Platteville, WI 53818 62%356$55,567$236,700$157 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Topeka, KS 66619 62%360$51,528$89,900$104 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older homes
Wichita, KS 67210 62%437$59,082$182,300$155 larger
Midway Park, NC 28544 60%696$52,354$141,700$172 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Bowling Green, OH 43402 60%394$52,426$243,100$166 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
Hammond, LA 70401 60%499$50,653$211,000$144 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older residents
Potsdam, NY 13676 59%885$56,170$160,200$147 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Americus, GA 31709 58%483$41,531$139,800$74 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Livingston, AL 35470 58%357$29,475$138,700$120 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · more homeowners
Biloxi, MS 39531 58%502$54,218$211,500$138 pricier homes ($42K more) · 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.