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 Stark City, MO 64866

Stark City: median income $59,712, home value $169,100, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bryant Pond, ME 04219 94%1,332$62,361$215,900$296 pricier homes ($47K more)
Washington, ME 04574 93%1,390$59,861$195,200$173 pricier homes ($26K more)
Cutler, OH 45724 93%695$58,500$149,200$167 Very close on everything we compare
Utica, PA 16362 92%824$65,833$183,000$159 Very close on everything we compare
Duck River, TN 38454 92%386$61,914$176,100$271 older residents
Aniwa, WI 54408 92%615$72,768$165,100$213 Very close on everything we compare
Palestine, WV 26160 91%708$48,992$181,100— Very close on everything we compare
Delta, AL 36258 91%534$58,993$143,100$192 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Ramer, TN 38367 91%335$58,571$160,200$174 larger
Brethren, MI 49619 91%667$62,574$162,100$206 older homes
Soper, OK 74759 91%215$54,219$133,500— cheaper homes ($36K less)
West Enfield, ME 04493 90%1,446$61,563$183,700$323 larger · older residents
Middlebury Center, PA 16935 90%961$63,125$200,000$182 pricier homes ($31K more) · older homes
Pelham, TN 37366 90%476$58,616$188,500— older homes
Conehatta, MS 39057 90%412$62,349$159,200$66 larger
Levering, MI 49755 90%775$65,789$188,900$339 larger
Cornell, MI 49818 90%719$61,528$191,700$180 Very close on everything we compare
Blue River, WI 53518 90%478$62,384$164,900$87 5 min shorter commute
Randall, MN 56475 90%636$64,327$207,800$150 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · older homes
Scranton, AR 72863 90%110$64,773$156,500$75 larger
Cedarville, AR 72932 90%89$59,740$165,000— larger
Van Vleck, TX 77482 90%552$58,103$205,900$160 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Sutton, AK 99674 90%2,874$63,688$233,800$269 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
Sullivan, ME 04664 89%1,455$59,643$222,000$180 pricier homes ($53K more)
Plymouth, ME 04969 89%1,406$61,964$207,100— pricier homes ($38K more) · younger 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.