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 Saint Joseph, MO 64503

Saint Joseph: median income $53,039, home value $140,500, $129/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Canton, OH 44706 95%710$58,228$143,800$142 Very close on everything we compare
Bryan, OH 43506 94%551$60,234$162,000$132 Very close on everything we compare
Clarinda, IA 51632 94%71$55,055$143,000$130 smaller
Beatrice, NE 68310 94%108$60,928$168,000$118 pricier homes ($28K more)
Brady, TX 76825 94%645$53,665$148,800$122 smaller
Clearfield, PA 16830 93%865$58,304$130,300$110 Very close on everything we compare
South Boston, VA 24592 93%887$51,547$168,900$138 pricier homes ($28K more)
Coshocton, OH 43812 93%686$52,904$151,700$139 larger
Greenville, OH 45331 93%540$53,801$166,200$129 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Washington, IN 47501 93%416$62,982$172,800$129 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Lincoln, IL 62656 93%290$62,017$141,600$109 larger
Cushing, OK 74023 93%280$49,097$145,400$110 Very close on everything we compare
Sweetwater, TX 79556 93%590$49,393$94,900$111 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Union City, TN 38261 92%387$55,876$153,400$129 Very close on everything we compare
Cambridge, OH 43725 92%701$57,835$164,400$129 larger
Bucyrus, OH 44820 92%628$58,223$141,400$132 Very close on everything we compare
Ironton, OH 45638 92%656$52,728$119,000$121 larger · 6 min longer commute
Marion, IN 46952 92%486$52,880$146,700$111 larger
Princeton, IN 47670 92%400$64,907$158,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
Evansdale, IA 50707 92%231$63,441$153,700$128 smaller
Red Oak, IA 51566 92%91$56,637$134,200$109 smaller
Centerville, IA 52544 92%124$50,572$116,900$119 older homes
Antigo, WI 54409 92%472$53,576$123,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Chickasha, OK 73018 92%368$56,484$141,400$122 larger
Vinita, OK 74301 92%215$52,211$144,100$129 5 min longer commute

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.