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.

Reset

Towns most like Bethany, MO 64424

Bethany: median income $53,479, home value $120,800, $37/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Youngsville, PA 16371 89%773$57,514$116,600$57 Very close on everything we compare
Montezuma, GA 31063 86%782$52,381$111,900$41 younger residents
Goodland, KS 67735 86%413$61,042$136,400$30 5 min shorter commute
Mc Crory, AR 72101 86%379$50,921$105,100— newer homes
Belle, WV 25015 85%684$56,681$98,100$63 Very close on everything we compare
Glenville, WV 26351 85%707$55,742$106,500$53 5 min longer commute
Albion, IL 62806 85%344$66,776$120,800— more homeowners
Carmi, IL 62821 85%348$55,367$116,300$54 larger · more homeowners
Louisville, IL 62858 85%311$66,319$150,600$40 pricier homes ($30K more) · newer homes
Warren, AR 71671 85%472$43,419$101,200$36 larger · newer homes
Tatum, NM 88267 85%705$52,250$111,400— smaller · 6 min longer commute
Princeton, ME 04668 84%1,377$48,720$117,700— smaller · newer homes
Wolf Point, MT 59201 84%789$53,311$127,100— younger residents
Harper, KS 67058 84%297$62,121$96,200$52 smaller
Plainview, NE 68769 84%243$61,833$122,500$52 smaller
Gordon, NE 69343 84%458$59,741$116,700— smaller · older homes
Springer, NM 87747 84%632$55,948$119,500$27 smaller · older residents
Clymer, PA 15728 83%788$60,143$122,200$58 6 min longer commute
Ridgway, PA 15853 83%802$59,344$109,400— larger · more homeowners
Farrell, PA 16121 83%710$42,595$87,800— cheaper homes ($33K less)
Pineville, WV 24874 83%695$54,596$96,600— smaller
Hickman, KY 42050 83%365$41,800$77,100$40 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Hettinger, ND 58639 83%596$63,636$116,500$52 smaller
Ord, NE 68862 83%273$60,321$163,100— pricier homes ($42K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Hollis, OK 73550 83%502$43,804$80,200$47 cheaper homes ($41K 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.