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 Irondale, MO 63648

Irondale: median income $51,765, home value $99,500, $126/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Poulan, GA 31781 97%586$52,991$110,800$123 Very close on everything we compare
Norway, SC 29113 95%617$48,857$84,200— Very close on everything we compare
Washington, LA 70589 95%499$49,650$129,300$146 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
North, SC 29112 94%613$50,195$91,700$109 larger
Saline, LA 71070 94%409$59,259$109,100$116 Very close on everything we compare
Garland, NC 28441 93%714$51,250$106,800$150 Very close on everything we compare
Bowman, SC 29018 93%642$49,167$108,000$162 larger
Summer Shade, KY 42166 93%282$49,783$116,200$145 Very close on everything we compare
Bradford, AR 72020 93%172$49,231$95,300— larger
Quinton, OK 74561 92%323$48,224$90,000$104 Very close on everything we compare
Haysi, VA 24256 91%463$48,788$104,100$113 larger · older residents
Clendenin, WV 25045 91%509$52,025$119,900$111 larger
Seth, WV 25181 91%494$46,705$91,900$122 Very close on everything we compare
Tignall, GA 30668 91%522$49,107$119,800$109 Very close on everything we compare
Oakman, AL 35579 91%341$46,968$110,800$86 larger
Midway, AL 36053 91%492$49,357$104,200— 5 min longer commute
Bivins, TX 75555 91%388$58,750$112,100— Very close on everything we compare
Pineland, TX 75968 91%492$53,355$89,100— 6 min shorter commute
Alberta, VA 23821 90%705$46,336$98,500$157 5 min shorter commute
Varney, WV 25696 90%469$48,077$109,400— Very close on everything we compare
Uvalda, GA 30473 90%612$49,565$109,200$119 older residents
Empire, AL 35063 90%345$61,138$110,500$127 larger
Benoit, MS 38725 90%290$47,115$80,700— smaller
Wallingford, KY 41093 90%390$60,350$123,800$131 Very close on everything we compare
Waldo, AR 71770 90%342$44,569$91,200$109 larger

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.