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 Defiance, MO 63341

Defiance: median income $170,598, home value $606,800, $224/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Loretto, MN 55357 94%469$152,500$530,200$245 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Wayne, IL 60184 93%265$163,750$642,700$239 pricier homes ($36K more)
East Kingston, NH 03827 91%1,076$142,794$600,500$273 lower income ($28K less)
San Antonio, TX 78266 89%754$146,792$586,600$203 larger
Auburn, NH 03032 88%1,059$153,253$600,300$294 larger · older homes
Clarence Center, NY 14032 88%704$168,711$502,100$261 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger
West River, MD 20778 87%769$205,974$716,500$307 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($110K more) · smaller
Crownsville, MD 21032 87%766$168,653$682,100$286 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Fisherville, KY 40023 87%294$144,635$497,800$184 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85045 87%1,243$153,583$634,600$280 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Brookline, NH 03033 86%1,040$171,046$544,400$245 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · younger residents
Oakland, MI 48363 86%491$179,375$618,200$226 larger · younger residents
Bucyrus, KS 66013 86%208$164,320$724,500$234 pricier homes ($118K more) · younger residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73151 86%421$147,250$667,000$235 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Marriottsville, MD 21104 85%748$191,804$680,200$243 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · younger residents
Adamstown, MD 21710 85%719$163,864$591,100$192 6 min longer commute
Maidens, VA 23102 85%708$126,635$510,200$272 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($97K less)
Eads, TN 38028 85%251$151,389$463,600$210 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger
Monclova, OH 43542 85%423$148,657$402,000$217 cheaper homes ($205K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Sunnyvale, TX 75182 85%517$170,348$565,300$208 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · younger residents
Larkspur, CO 80118 85%754$158,155$886,900$248 pricier homes ($280K more) · larger · older residents
Hollis, NH 03049 84%1,045$168,883$675,900$286 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · older homes
Canterbury, NH 03224 84%1,053$138,125$438,500$245 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($168K less) · older homes
Allentown, NJ 08501 84%872$146,182$588,800$312 larger
Cumming, IA 50061 84%249$130,714$533,800$197 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller

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.