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 Essex, MO 63846

Essex: median income $50,813, home value $93,300, $40/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elton, LA 70532 93%468$44,095$99,700$39 larger
Princeton, ME 04668 87%1,291$48,720$117,700— larger
Hickman, KY 42050 87%40$41,800$77,100$40 larger
Black Rock, AR 72415 87%86$53,750$93,300$67 Very close on everything we compare
Hollis, OK 73550 87%584$43,804$80,200$47 larger · older homes
Taholah, WA 98587 87%1,891$51,458$112,300— 6 min shorter commute
Lexa, AR 72355 86%161$55,307$97,600— Very close on everything we compare
Belle Rive, IL 62810 85%114$57,969$117,700— younger residents
Montezuma, GA 31063 84%455$52,381$111,900$41 larger · younger residents
Blue Mountain, MS 38610 84%155$51,675$92,900$66 larger
Bearden, AR 71720 84%264$61,250$102,400$61 larger
Santa Anna, TX 76878 84%645$46,111$78,300— Very close on everything we compare
Nespelem, WA 99155 84%1,666$50,909$143,100— pricier homes ($50K more)
Pineville, WV 24874 83%460$54,596$96,600— older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Lumpkin, GA 31815 83%437$45,417$94,900$45 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Dunseith, ND 58329 83%977$51,065$88,800— larger · younger residents
Griggsville, IL 62340 83%206$43,333$99,500— 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Geary, OK 73040 83%484$61,328$117,000$56 Very close on everything we compare
Van Horn, TX 79855 83%946$58,910$79,300— larger
White Swan, WA 98952 83%1,715$50,417$102,300— larger · younger residents
Inverness, MS 38753 82%243$59,000$159,300— pricier homes ($66K more)
Rosiclare, IL 62982 82%92$43,750$61,300$40 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older homes
Harper, KS 67058 82%452$62,121$96,200$52 older homes
Satanta, KS 67870 82%614$58,125$115,400$52 7 min shorter commute
Niobrara, NE 68760 82%593$53,409$94,300— younger residents · more apartments and townhomes

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.