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 Clark, MO 65243

Clark: median income $68,021, home value $208,200, $191/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Trenton, KY 42286 89%328$65,938$276,200$172 pricier homes ($68K more)
Cortland, IL 60112 89%265$72,831$229,900$183 larger
Unity, ME 04988 87%1,234$62,929$203,600$251 smaller
Ararat, NC 27007 87%671$77,163$216,200$202 older residents
Leesburg, AL 35983 87%506$63,793$174,300$187 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents
Dieterich, IL 62424 87%212$84,635$225,800$142 Very close on everything we compare
Emerson, AR 71740 87%430$65,455$168,300$149 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents
Little River Academy, TX 76554 87%639$75,500$177,300$151 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents
New Hope, AL 35760 86%463$71,622$172,600$186 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · older residents
Howe, TX 75459 86%465$71,228$258,300$163 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Theresa, NY 13691 85%916$79,943$173,400$147 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Cashton, WI 54619 85%319$71,463$230,200$149 older residents · older homes
Blue Springs, MS 38828 84%387$65,025$158,900$161 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · older residents
Leesburg, OH 45135 84%470$79,629$210,000$165 larger · older residents
Odon, IN 47562 84%290$71,250$194,600$157 larger · older homes
Pellston, MI 49769 84%578$67,558$160,000$230 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · older residents
Wingate, NC 28174 83%719$71,136$226,700$184 larger
Bunnlevel, NC 28323 83%790$69,095$224,000$164 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Maple Hill, NC 28454 83%867$73,015$209,400$177 older residents · 9 min longer commute
Dalzell, SC 29040 83%751$65,978$162,100$161 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · older residents
Brookwood, AL 35444 83%500$69,207$181,500$176 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents
Auburn, KY 42206 83%348$66,815$167,700$171 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · older residents
Baltic, OH 43804 83%571$71,488$219,800$193 Very close on everything we compare
Otterbein, IN 47970 83%290$74,457$185,300$173 older residents
Paris, MI 49338 83%469$69,375$161,900$148 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older 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.