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 Stella, MO 64867

Stella: median income $55,474, home value $184,900, $173/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cub Run, KY 42729 94%450$54,706$189,200$196 larger
Warrensville, NC 28693 89%702$62,596$171,800$228 Very close on everything we compare
Pall Mall, TN 38577 89%508$52,578$153,000— cheaper homes ($32K less)
Stringer, MS 39481 89%441$61,458$166,300— Very close on everything we compare
Sanders, KY 41083 89%522$53,088$190,300— larger · older residents
Adolphus, KY 42120 89%440$64,958$178,500$190 larger
Highland Home, AL 36041 87%561$60,903$160,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
Rose, OK 74364 87%57$63,542$171,300$233 larger · older residents
Elm Mott, TX 76640 87%388$66,641$166,900$149 larger
Greenbush, ME 04418 86%1,445$60,500$135,100$208 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · older residents
Independence, WV 26374 86%800$57,321$162,300$145 larger · older residents
Siloam, NC 27047 86%757$71,146$214,500— pricier homes ($30K more)
Benton, MS 39039 86%352$60,175$145,000$143 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Rose Bud, AR 72137 86%155$52,612$164,800$148 larger · older residents
Terlton, OK 74081 86%132$52,941$124,200— cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Marquez, TX 77865 86%399$67,114$187,100$157 Very close on everything we compare
Corinna, ME 04928 85%1,415$56,547$163,200$213 larger · older residents
Whitleyville, TN 38588 85%472$44,583$209,200$222 Very close on everything we compare
Sparta, KY 41086 85%527$61,824$168,800$137 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Franklin Furnace, OH 45629 85%636$60,592$174,300$119 larger
Canaan, ME 04924 84%1,397$57,781$159,900$243 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · older residents
Hiwassee, VA 24347 84%748$55,156$159,600$172 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · older residents
Cool Ridge, WV 25825 84%724$57,795$138,400$179 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Hardin, KY 42048 84%329$55,714$138,800$134 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · more renters
Fairchild, WI 54741 84%568$62,679$166,700$176 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.