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 Dora, MO 65637

Dora: median income $50,588, home value $196,000, $163/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pamplin, VA 23958 90%750$53,650$201,400$209 larger
Laconia, IN 47135 90%349$48,611$216,200$174 Very close on everything we compare
Dowelltown, TN 37059 88%356$49,510$232,200$144 pricier homes ($36K more) · more renters
Soldiers Grove, WI 54655 88%465$56,010$220,900$138 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Clearbrook, MN 56634 88%774$64,886$216,400$140 larger
Callao, VA 22435 87%863$50,809$187,100$175 larger
Mount Nebo, WV 26679 87%635$53,459$164,900$179 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 6 min longer commute
Columbia Falls, ME 04623 86%1,387$50,163$180,600$138 older residents
Pilot, VA 24138 86%658$62,400$235,700$130 pricier homes ($40K more)
Minor Hill, TN 38473 86%308$54,526$247,000$226 pricier homes ($51K more)
Waco, KY 40385 86%450$63,103$194,700$155 larger
Sonora, KY 42776 86%352$58,771$192,700$139 larger · older residents
Seaman, OH 45679 86%495$55,028$157,700$156 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Mount Vernon, AR 72111 86%106$52,059$178,700$147 older residents
Holliday, TX 76366 86%417$56,034$156,700$167 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Baskerville, VA 23915 85%772$50,815$156,600$119 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Strawberry, AR 72469 85%76$44,421$161,100$113 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Snook, TX 77878 85%498$60,417$207,000— Very close on everything we compare
Ethridge, TN 38456 84%293$49,643$208,600$185 larger · younger residents
Lamar, MS 38642 84%207$59,388$143,200$162 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Benton, MS 39039 84%294$60,175$145,000$143 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Wilson, MI 49896 84%665$56,167$164,800$163 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Ramona, OK 74061 84%203$58,929$225,700$159 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older residents
Cameron, OK 74932 84%169$50,750$201,700$157 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Goodrich, TX 77335 84%453$53,300$171,600$154 larger · 5 min shorter 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.