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.

Reset

Towns most like Murphysboro, IL 62966

Murphysboro: median income $55,665, home value $142,200, $83/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carbondale, PA 18407 93%780$59,652$162,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Winfield, KS 67156 93%421$58,821$153,300$90 Very close on everything we compare
Pine Bluff, AR 71603 93%290$53,130$121,600$75 larger
Bluefield, WV 24701 92%446$50,455$105,000$86 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Vicksburg, MS 39180 92%386$56,837$160,800$99 larger
Gallipolis, OH 45631 92%392$56,835$156,200$118 Very close on everything we compare
Huntington, WV 25704 91%374$53,189$119,700$105 Very close on everything we compare
Weston, WV 26452 91%487$51,695$128,300$111 smaller
Williamston, NC 27892 91%689$48,223$113,900$105 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Marion, IN 46952 91%276$52,880$146,700$111 Very close on everything we compare
Ozark, AL 36360 90%485$51,181$150,600$115 Very close on everything we compare
Ashland, KY 41101 90%367$53,889$121,600$101 Very close on everything we compare
Tell City, IN 47586 90%142$60,587$159,000$98 Very close on everything we compare
Essexville, MI 48732 90%496$57,903$169,600$133 pricier homes ($27K more)
Morgan City, LA 70380 90%568$54,595$141,600$80 Very close on everything we compare
White Hall, AR 71602 90%286$55,204$157,100$104 newer homes
Camden, AR 71701 90%349$49,110$113,700$94 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Norwich, NY 13815 89%799$61,469$133,900$113 5 min shorter commute
Clearfield, PA 16830 89%623$58,304$130,300$110 Very close on everything we compare
Pittston, PA 18640 89%761$60,862$147,500$116 Very close on everything we compare
Martinsville, VA 24112 89%526$48,770$130,100$104 larger
Saint Albans, WV 25177 89%410$55,046$139,900$116 larger
South Charleston, WV 25309 89%417$57,937$158,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Kinston, NC 28504 89%672$53,583$143,300$124 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35214 89%322$56,383$164,500$94 more single-family 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.