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 Cardwell, MO 63829

Cardwell: median income $28,281, home value $68,100, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ruleville, MS 38771 81%161$33,547$86,100$38 larger · older residents
Lame Deer, MT 59043 80%1,074$29,028$111,000— pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · more homeowners
Fort Washakie, WY 82514 78%1,099$31,667$92,200— older residents · more homeowners
Drew, MS 38737 76%151$28,343$77,800— larger · older residents
Fort Yates, ND 58538 75%878$34,858$88,500— larger · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Batesville, TX 78829 73%732$28,517$73,400— older residents · more homeowners
Ridgely, TN 38080 72%47$30,313$82,900$77 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Bayou La Batre, AL 36509 70%407$33,488$86,500$112 older residents · more homeowners
Moorhead, MS 38761 69%178$33,625$62,900— larger · older residents · more homeowners
Pippa Passes, KY 41844 69%421$31,690$73,900— more apartments and townhomes
Commerce, OK 74339 69%262$34,970$72,900— larger · older residents · more homeowners
Rosedale, MS 38769 68%157$20,104$88,500— larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Hindman, KY 41822 68%415$24,638$71,500$136 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Cumberland, KY 40823 67%411$35,402$70,500$61 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Runge, TX 78151 67%657$26,597$100,900— pricier homes ($33K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Luxora, AR 72358 66%28$32,841$43,000— cheaper homes ($25K less) · older residents
Lower Brule, SD 57548 64%742$35,750$33,900— cheaper homes ($34K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Kensett, AR 72082 64%95$31,638$91,000$84 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
West Helena, AR 72390 64%105$38,294$64,700$54 larger · older residents
Eagle Butte, SD 57625 63%843$43,235$68,000— larger
Oilton, OK 74052 63%352$31,786$89,500$114 older residents · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Sunflower, MS 38778 61%172$40,179$86,900— older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Itta Bena, MS 38941 61%177$38,705$91,100$41 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Erick, OK 73645 61%540$35,625$90,400$151 older residents · more homeowners
Saint Francis, SD 57572 60%747$40,417$37,800— cheaper homes ($30K less) · more homeowners

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.