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 Cape Fair, MO 65624

Cape Fair: median income $61,995, home value $237,500, $136/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Drummond Island, MI 49726 91%818$67,232$273,200— pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Wallace, MI 49893 90%669$63,125$197,600$135 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older homes
Bigfork, MN 56628 90%761$61,250$244,700$189 Very close on everything we compare
Counce, TN 38326 89%317$49,026$191,900$173 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Lakeview, AR 72642 89%62$68,810$224,100$138 Very close on everything we compare
Berrien Center, MI 49102 87%530$63,000$262,400$148 older homes
Scott, AR 72142 87%163$62,863$196,900$179 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 5 min longer commute
Eureka Springs, AR 72631 87%23$56,678$259,300$169 larger
Ruffs Dale, PA 15679 85%790$77,099$200,000$140 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Sharon, SC 29742 85%694$52,775$218,100$120 Very close on everything we compare
Au Gres, MI 48703 85%723$64,792$172,100$160 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · older homes
Broaddus, TX 75929 85%377$69,554$166,900$156 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Etta, MS 38627 84%293$62,826$149,200$127 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller
Brooks, KY 40109 84%437$75,495$262,400$148 younger residents
Valley, WA 99181 84%1,454$63,661$267,600$218 pricier homes ($30K more) · older homes
Cape Vincent, NY 13618 83%1,038$61,494$228,700$143 older homes
Boydton, VA 23917 83%841$73,965$201,600$187 cheaper homes ($36K less) · younger residents
Fancy Gap, VA 24328 83%713$56,659$165,100$165 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older homes
Germanton, NC 27019 83%741$59,176$205,000$174 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · younger residents
Ivanhoe, NC 28447 83%872$77,134$241,300— younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Akeley, MN 56433 83%712$58,889$228,500$185 Very close on everything we compare
Amado, AZ 85645 83%1,059$60,714$206,800$173 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 9 min longer commute
Sebring, FL 33876 82%960$55,564$174,100$159 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Rossburg, OH 45362 82%542$61,687$231,500$152 smaller · younger residents · older homes
Yantis, TX 75497 82%286$56,205$212,800$212 larger · 7 min longer commute

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.