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 Norborne, MO 64668

Norborne: median income $73,889, home value $119,900, $174/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rossiter, PA 15772 91%785$62,727$133,700$164 Very close on everything we compare
Coal City, IN 47427 90%355$74,920$122,600$141 more homeowners
Belle Plaine, KS 67013 90%236$69,831$156,300$148 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Virgilina, VA 24598 89%833$61,985$150,100$172 pricier homes ($30K more)
Russellville, OH 45168 89%532$74,167$173,100$177 pricier homes ($53K more)
Bloomingdale, IN 47832 89%344$78,125$146,400$134 pricier homes ($27K more) · newer homes
Darlington, IN 47940 89%371$70,711$152,100$157 pricier homes ($32K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Greenfield, IL 62044 89%185$71,146$113,000$171 Very close on everything we compare
De Ruyter, NY 13052 88%956$76,750$134,400$197 more apartments and townhomes
New Holland, OH 43145 88%556$73,500$177,600$173 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Eaton, IN 47338 88%447$68,239$111,100$151 larger
Mechanicsville, IA 52306 88%218$61,875$167,500$140 pricier homes ($48K more)
Mabel, MN 55954 88%307$66,250$159,600$155 pricier homes ($40K more)
Bradford, IL 61421 88%247$65,833$91,300$208 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Greenview, IL 62642 88%216$77,538$112,700$119 Very close on everything we compare
Waverly, KS 66871 88%123$71,094$145,100— pricier homes ($25K more)
Rankin, TX 79778 88%728$70,808$123,500— Very close on everything we compare
Dawson, PA 15428 87%746$70,368$123,200$135 Very close on everything we compare
Stoneboro, PA 16153 87%728$63,750$149,300— pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Malinta, OH 43535 87%525$67,083$172,100$141 pricier homes ($52K more)
Royal Center, IN 46978 87%393$78,750$130,000$119 larger
Sherwood, MI 49089 87%479$69,286$128,800$202 larger
Dakota, IL 61018 87%303$76,471$157,800— pricier homes ($38K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Nortonville, KS 66060 87%88$77,222$155,800— pricier homes ($36K more) · younger residents
Mclean, TX 79057 87%474$70,865$91,300— cheaper homes ($29K less)

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.