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 Marshall, MO 65340

Marshall: median income $58,118, home value $156,100, $129/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783 96%676$60,658$158,800$156 Very close on everything we compare
Atchison, KS 66002 94%104$61,364$149,100$125 5 min longer commute
Wichita Falls, TX 76302 94%468$59,590$165,800$133 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Pleasant, IA 52641 93%153$64,512$171,400$112 older residents
Lima, OH 45805 92%494$68,842$160,600$141 larger
Vincennes, IN 47591 92%310$61,803$157,400$106 larger
Alma, MI 48801 92%532$58,750$129,700$112 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 5 min longer commute
Hillsdale, MI 49242 92%491$61,029$183,700$147 pricier homes ($28K more)
Waterloo, IA 50701 92%234$61,475$183,800$128 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Altus, OK 73521 92%458$60,887$160,600$125 Very close on everything we compare
Guymon, OK 73942 92%480$61,522$184,500$142 pricier homes ($28K more)
Ada, OK 74820 92%358$62,357$181,400$123 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Uvalde, TX 78801 92%782$54,161$152,700$137 Very close on everything we compare
Clovis, NM 88101 92%642$56,587$172,300$138 larger
Union City, TN 38261 91%296$55,876$153,400$129 older residents
Upper Sandusky, OH 43351 91%539$67,606$170,400$148 smaller
Storm Lake, IA 50588 91%262$70,906$184,900$122 pricier homes ($29K more)
Waterloo, IA 50702 91%234$62,021$150,500$123 older homes
Havre, MT 59501 91%1,041$51,872$218,100$110 pricier homes ($62K more)
El Dorado, KS 67042 91%216$62,857$141,300$119 older residents
Elk City, OK 73644 91%427$53,180$155,100$111 Very close on everything we compare
Mcalester, OK 74501 91%324$57,922$164,000$122 larger
Portales, NM 88130 91%656$52,434$135,000$112 Very close on everything we compare
Tiffin, OH 44883 90%548$62,692$163,600$139 larger · older residents
Washington, IN 47501 90%328$62,982$172,800$129 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.