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 Norwood, MO 65717

Norwood: median income $61,146, home value $207,000, $293/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Philadelphia, TN 37846 92%454$71,786$201,700$278 larger
Mill Spring, NC 28756 91%584$63,663$277,600$330 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Molena, GA 30258 91%530$58,777$262,500$228 pricier homes ($56K more)
Mount Hermon, LA 70450 91%440$61,333$200,000— Very close on everything we compare
South Webster, OH 45682 90%541$56,250$187,700— older homes
Centerville, PA 16404 89%746$65,972$156,200— cheaper homes ($51K less)
Toms Brook, VA 22660 89%771$67,917$268,600$261 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller
Prospect, VA 23960 89%763$63,533$219,100$210 Very close on everything we compare
Fellsmere, FL 32948 89%941$60,945$225,200$287 larger
Cornersville, TN 37047 89%333$64,688$260,100$201 pricier homes ($53K more)
Big Cabin, OK 74332 89%160$60,781$167,500$212 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Pamplin, VA 23958 88%757$53,650$201,400$209 Very close on everything we compare
Paw Paw, WV 25434 88%774$64,487$207,500$254 Very close on everything we compare
French Creek, WV 26218 88%675$58,646$143,900— cheaper homes ($63K less) · more homeowners
Alcolu, SC 29001 88%725$65,250$156,400$297 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Bryant, AL 35958 88%406$50,885$191,000$292 Very close on everything we compare
Stringer, MS 39481 88%403$61,458$166,300— cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Ogema, MN 56569 88%716$57,434$209,500— smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Covington, TX 76636 88%437$69,018$204,800$244 more homeowners
Shoshone, ID 83352 88%1,228$70,057$259,500$202 pricier homes ($53K more)
Corinna, ME 04928 87%1,319$56,547$163,200$213 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Bainbridge, PA 17502 87%874$72,776$233,000$235 pricier homes ($26K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Lincoln, DE 19960 87%933$67,200$275,700$258 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Hurlock, MD 21643 87%908$67,219$230,000$183 larger
Shenandoah, VA 22849 87%759$67,261$211,400$213 larger

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.