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 Independence, MO 64054

Independence: median income $59,719, home value $117,600, $140/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Masontown, PA 15461 92%776$57,596$124,900$112 Very close on everything we compare
Fowler, IN 47944 92%392$55,242$131,400$120 Very close on everything we compare
Tarentum, PA 15084 89%783$63,090$115,800$119 larger
Fort Wayne, IN 46809 89%507$52,253$133,100$156 larger
Port Allegany, PA 16743 88%868$54,083$120,600$107 less walkable
Duryea, PA 18642 88%995$61,250$158,700$140 pricier homes ($41K more) · less walkable
Chester, WV 26034 88%743$56,556$138,400$109 older residents
Wood River, IL 62095 88%234$65,013$111,000$110 larger
Bellwood, PA 16617 87%859$52,609$145,500$121 pricier homes ($28K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Rockwell City, IA 50579 87%227$61,108$126,000$118 less walkable
New Brighton, PA 15066 86%757$63,836$153,300$135 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older residents
Roaring Spring, PA 16673 86%856$70,464$159,500$128 pricier homes ($42K more)
Shinnston, WV 26431 86%757$61,023$149,900$120 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · less walkable
Shadyside, OH 43947 86%730$58,269$153,600$130 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Sigourney, IA 52591 86%194$62,404$156,500$130 pricier homes ($39K more) · less walkable
Thornton, IL 60476 86%398$59,647$155,100$175 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Caseyville, IL 62232 86%240$64,269$125,000$143 larger · newer homes
Reynoldsville, PA 15851 85%832$63,158$119,300$141 larger · less walkable
Corry, PA 16407 85%799$58,606$134,000$97 larger
Nitro, WV 25143 85%681$53,205$128,600$108 larger
Gas City, IN 46933 85%478$56,786$120,700$125 larger · older residents · less walkable
Red Oak, IA 51566 85%138$56,637$134,200$109 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Childress, TX 79201 85%456$58,438$124,600$128 larger · less walkable
Mount Morris, NY 14510 84%898$61,713$104,700$94 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, PA 15074 84%759$54,063$145,400$106 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older residents

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.