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 Liberal, MO 64762

Liberal: median income $58,750, home value $108,600, $90/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Palmyra, IL 62674 93%274$55,417$99,600$94 Very close on everything we compare
Petrolia, PA 16050 91%823$56,708$132,700$123 Very close on everything we compare
Sligo, PA 16255 91%839$56,058$119,300$93 6 min shorter commute
Clay, KY 42404 91%366$61,293$115,300$104 larger
Evansville, IL 62242 91%254$60,400$121,800$92 younger residents
Sesser, IL 62884 91%300$58,679$97,200$81 larger · younger residents
Saint Regis Falls, NY 12980 90%1,147$60,938$106,500$110 5 min shorter commute
Van Etten, NY 14889 90%1,002$61,944$147,800$112 pricier homes ($39K more)
Hyndman, PA 15545 90%864$56,757$129,600$72 larger
Sistersville, WV 26175 90%743$56,875$118,800$67 larger
Cuba, IL 61427 90%308$65,750$105,900$115 Very close on everything we compare
Stronghurst, IL 61480 90%292$58,750$117,600$81 8 min shorter commute
Astoria, IL 61501 90%290$55,750$80,200$107 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Crossville, IL 62827 90%355$52,550$100,000— Very close on everything we compare
Summerville, PA 15864 89%854$65,859$141,400$109 pricier homes ($33K more) · older homes
Mayport, PA 16240 89%848$58,281$142,400$135 pricier homes ($34K more)
Wingo, KY 42088 89%325$52,745$134,500$86 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · newer homes
Akron, MI 48701 89%709$62,969$112,200$108 Very close on everything we compare
La Harpe, IL 61450 89%282$59,688$94,700$79 6 min shorter commute
Milo, ME 04463 88%1,418$58,810$98,000$99 larger · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Stoneboro, PA 16153 88%811$63,750$149,300— pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
New Haven, WV 25265 88%687$51,827$107,700$107 7 min shorter commute
Kenton, TN 38233 88%318$60,000$108,700$74 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Adena, OH 43901 88%755$63,603$107,600$114 larger · older homes
Salineville, OH 43945 88%763$62,500$126,400$74 larger

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.