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.

Reset

Towns most like Preston, MO 65732

Preston: median income $45,909, home value $278,800, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Laconia, IN 47135 88%386$48,611$216,200$174 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 6 min longer commute
Carlsbad, TX 76934 88%609$52,125$269,600$344 7 min shorter commute
Paragonah, UT 84760 88%1,067$42,465$264,900— more walkable
Greenville, VA 24440 86%764$46,178$280,300$207 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Whitleyville, TN 38588 85%423$44,583$209,200$222 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Pamplin, VA 23958 84%795$53,650$201,400$209 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Callaway, VA 24067 84%722$49,353$246,300$120 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Pilot, VA 24138 84%706$62,400$235,700$130 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Alexis, NC 28006 84%691$51,932$234,600$250 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Soldiers Grove, WI 54655 84%397$56,010$220,900$138 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents
Abbeville, MS 38601 83%317$47,941$190,000$147 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Ogema, MN 56569 83%648$57,434$209,500— cheaper homes ($69K less)
Cameron, OK 74932 83%206$50,750$201,700$157 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Selma, OR 97538 83%1,624$44,099$312,200$303 pricier homes ($33K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Thaxton, VA 24174 82%740$54,052$192,800$135 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Molena, GA 30258 82%597$58,777$262,500$228 larger
Ethridge, TN 38456 82%372$49,643$208,600$185 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Pingree, ID 83262 82%1,080$59,900$334,100$221 pricier homes ($55K more) · older homes
Plymouth, ME 04969 81%1,323$61,964$207,100— cheaper homes ($72K less)
Home, PA 15747 81%773$54,938$192,900$108 cheaper homes ($86K less) · older residents · older homes
Minor Hill, TN 38473 81%389$54,526$247,000$226 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more renters
Kimmell, IN 46760 81%470$46,992$165,300$123 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Porter, ME 04068 80%1,227$60,417$226,100$201 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older homes
Columbia Falls, ME 04623 80%1,392$50,163$180,600$138 cheaper homes ($98K less) · older residents
Cornersville, TN 37047 80%395$64,688$260,100$201 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.