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 Meta, MO 65058

Meta: median income $71,771, home value $242,900, $83/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Warriors Mark, PA 16877 93%768$68,500$307,700— pricier homes ($65K more)
Easton, KS 66020 91%176$78,594$320,100— pricier homes ($77K more)
Penn Run, PA 15765 90%719$73,646$186,000— cheaper homes ($57K less)
Earlton, NY 12058 89%999$85,469$273,500— pricier homes ($31K more)
Venus, PA 16364 88%704$74,886$183,500— cheaper homes ($59K less) · older homes
Stillwater, PA 17878 87%860$68,125$214,100$61 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Vulcan, MI 49892 87%564$74,926$198,900$116 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Ettrick, WI 54627 87%412$77,212$223,800$93 larger · younger residents
Fowler, IL 62338 87%130$91,473$226,800$112 Very close on everything we compare
Hixton, WI 54635 86%429$72,566$209,100$110 cheaper homes ($34K less) · younger residents
Erhard, MN 56534 86%604$70,694$238,300$145 Very close on everything we compare
Vanderbilt, PA 15486 85%677$66,250$164,000$79 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Dornsife, PA 17823 85%837$78,864$232,100— younger residents
Rock Cave, WV 26234 85%640$61,250$206,500— cheaper homes ($36K less) · 6 min longer commute
Genoa, WI 54632 85%371$82,500$236,100— younger residents
Dawson, IL 62520 85%181$84,500$226,400$101 younger residents
Milan, PA 18831 84%861$82,132$216,900$122 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Lumberport, WV 26386 84%638$75,720$186,800$97 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · younger residents
Ivanhoe, NC 28447 84%811$77,134$241,300— more apartments and townhomes
Springport, IN 47386 84%383$79,157$184,600$92 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents
Au Sable Forks, NY 12912 83%1,045$70,046$189,200$121 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Acme, PA 15610 83%693$72,938$197,100$102 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Herndon, PA 17830 83%834$73,942$194,600$110 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · younger residents
Lindside, WV 24951 83%630$70,559$205,200$79 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Purgitsville, WV 26852 83%716$63,221$218,300$125 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.