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 Ash Grove, MO 65604

Ash Grove: median income $68,683, home value $198,200, $161/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Meraux, LA 70075 97%552$73,067$232,600$140 pricier homes ($34K more)
Van, TX 75790 95%351$65,039$173,900$133 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, AL 35648 93%382$79,500$172,600$148 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Alexandria, AL 36250 93%496$83,406$211,600$140 Very close on everything we compare
Addison, MI 49220 92%589$72,500$225,200$190 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · older residents
Thorndike, ME 04986 91%1,359$71,833$184,500$163 smaller
Maidsville, WV 26541 91%753$73,444$236,400$163 pricier homes ($38K more)
Gadsden, AL 35905 91%487$67,042$195,600$133 larger
Blakeslee, PA 18610 90%998$67,656$239,100$180 pricier homes ($41K more) · 5 min longer commute
New Hope, AL 35760 90%445$71,622$172,600$186 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Soso, MS 39480 90%454$74,853$183,100$188 smaller
Rome, OH 44085 90%739$66,136$159,100$197 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Ossian, IN 46777 90%514$72,758$201,100$170 larger
Ironton, MN 56455 90%633$73,214$222,600$163 smaller
Sedgwick, KS 67135 90%214$74,939$213,700$168 7 min shorter commute
Baton Rouge, LA 70819 90%495$73,561$171,000$125 cheaper homes ($27K less)
West Fork, AR 72774 90%104$76,316$225,700$184 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Mountainburg, AR 72946 90%120$75,494$165,100$166 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Culloden, WV 25510 89%632$72,894$174,500$154 more apartments and townhomes
Raymond, MS 39154 89%395$72,783$221,300$143 larger
Whitesville, KY 42378 89%369$73,419$181,400$146 Very close on everything we compare
Cashton, WI 54619 89%468$71,463$230,200$149 pricier homes ($32K more)
Clearbrook, MN 56634 89%724$64,886$216,400$140 smaller
Itasca, TX 76055 89%410$80,025$197,300$152 Very close on everything we compare
Buckfield, ME 04220 88%1,300$79,750$222,000$188 Very close on everything we compare

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.