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 Cairo, MO 65239

Cairo: median income $83,578, home value $195,800, $148/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cameron, SC 29030 96%769$80,313$198,600$148 Very close on everything we compare
Bradley, ME 04411 93%1,269$76,667$201,800$152 Very close on everything we compare
Medford, MN 55049 92%325$90,625$247,800$166 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Adams Center, NY 13606 91%898$88,977$203,900$143 Very close on everything we compare
Great Valley, NY 14741 91%745$70,962$140,600$166 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Williamstown, VT 05679 90%1,070$94,082$238,900$149 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
West Paducah, KY 42086 90%260$77,591$179,200$152 larger
Pewamo, MI 48873 90%462$86,250$195,300$174 Very close on everything we compare
Chazy, NY 12921 89%1,038$101,302$215,100$132 Very close on everything we compare
New Columbia, PA 17856 89%825$91,661$197,600$178 larger · older residents
Spout Spring, VA 24593 89%747$79,018$243,900$195 pricier homes ($48K more)
Climax, NC 27233 89%738$83,819$269,200$188 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
Reedsville, WV 26547 88%673$76,084$204,000$178 larger · 5 min longer commute
Laotto, IN 46763 88%401$97,054$270,800$155 pricier homes ($75K more)
Dafter, MI 49724 88%622$82,321$165,900$192 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Woodlawn, IL 62898 88%197$74,297$158,800$121 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Pomona, KS 66076 88%173$73,945$187,900$173 Very close on everything we compare
Tulsa, OK 74131 88%310$76,382$209,000$167 older residents · more renters
Stonewall, OK 74871 88%404$70,838$177,800$145 Very close on everything we compare
Locke, NY 13092 87%861$78,056$192,700$148 larger · more renters
Pinebluff, NC 28373 87%774$81,538$224,400$199 pricier homes ($29K more)
Norwich, OH 43767 87%566$75,580$175,500$203 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, WI 53015 87%388$88,810$222,200$164 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older homes
Schriever, LA 70395 87%683$78,488$196,800$131 larger · more renters
Blossom, TX 75416 87%434$75,735$202,500$132 larger · more renters

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.