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 Plato, MO 65552

Plato: median income $63,894, home value $189,000, $118/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Blanchard, MI 49310 93%558$64,420$177,700$145 Very close on everything we compare
Thorndike, ME 04986 92%1,285$71,833$184,500$163 Very close on everything we compare
Pilot, VA 24138 90%652$62,400$235,700$130 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · older residents
Symsonia, KY 42082 90%205$67,000$223,200$134 pricier homes ($34K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Hardinsburg, IN 47125 90%325$73,421$169,500$142 Very close on everything we compare
Clearbrook, MN 56634 90%723$64,886$216,400$140 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Pembroke, KY 42266 89%270$71,250$230,200$119 pricier homes ($41K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Roff, OK 74865 89%329$65,000$132,900$117 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Fultonville, NY 12072 88%1,008$81,063$190,200$109 Very close on everything we compare
Maple Hill, NC 28454 88%830$73,015$209,400$177 Very close on everything we compare
Butler, OH 44822 88%564$72,159$245,700$135 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Cashton, WI 54619 88%437$71,463$230,200$149 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Van, TX 75790 88%397$65,039$173,900$133 larger · older residents
Boling, TX 77420 88%611$67,697$226,400$104 pricier homes ($37K more) · older homes
Loretto, KY 40037 87%370$70,000$215,000$139 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Meraux, LA 70075 87%539$73,067$232,600$140 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Ochelata, OK 74051 87%219$67,841$178,300$152 older residents
Panama, NY 14767 86%742$67,607$143,500$156 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Harrisonville, PA 17228 86%777$67,438$172,000$114 smaller
Lexington, AL 35648 86%319$79,500$172,600$148 older residents
Saint Louisville, OH 43071 86%559$78,824$222,900$128 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents
Kimbolton, OH 43749 86%600$65,565$159,200$137 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Winchester, OH 45697 86%472$71,439$205,900$160 larger
Owensville, IN 47665 86%249$68,625$200,300$119 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Vermontville, MI 49096 86%518$73,929$188,500$117 older homes

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.