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 Long Lane, MO 65590

Long Lane: median income $56,762, home value $191,700, $384/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
French Creek, WV 26218 91%695$58,646$143,900— cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Stringer, MS 39481 91%448$61,458$166,300— cheaper homes ($25K less)
South Webster, OH 45682 91%561$56,250$187,700— Very close on everything we compare
Bryant, AL 35958 90%445$50,885$191,000$292 larger
Ogema, MN 56569 90%675$57,434$209,500— 7 min shorter commute
Mount Hermon, LA 70450 90%482$61,333$200,000— larger
Altona, NY 12910 89%1,118$53,021$140,700— cheaper homes ($51K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Centerville, PA 16404 89%754$65,972$156,200— cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Rhine, GA 31077 89%676$54,688$172,600— more renters
Sandyville, WV 25275 88%618$64,632$164,600— cheaper homes ($27K less)
Atlantic, PA 16111 87%726$70,074$162,300— cheaper homes ($29K less)
Lilesville, NC 28091 87%743$52,917$152,900— cheaper homes ($39K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Bluford, IL 62814 87%233$59,462$121,300— cheaper homes ($70K less)
Magazine, AR 72943 87%174$62,022$154,200— cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Burnsville, MS 38833 86%319$52,917$142,300— cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents
Beecher City, IL 62414 86%249$58,370$157,800— cheaper homes ($34K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Lecompte, LA 71346 86%448$48,240$173,800— Very close on everything we compare
Penasco, NM 87553 86%712$48,906$202,700— Very close on everything we compare
Canton, ME 04221 85%1,267$52,458$165,000$296 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Molena, GA 30258 85%573$58,777$262,500$228 pricier homes ($71K more)
Fruithurst, AL 36262 85%496$68,611$155,600— cheaper homes ($36K less) · newer homes
Springfield, AR 72157 85%161$62,931$140,300— cheaper homes ($51K less)
Big Cabin, OK 74332 85%146$60,781$167,500$212 Very close on everything we compare
Hiram, ME 04041 84%1,230$62,813$256,600$325 pricier homes ($65K more)
Alcolu, SC 29001 84%762$65,250$156,400$297 cheaper homes ($35K less)

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.